The Bay Area has finally seen a significant increase in the number of ICU beds available this week, with total availability rising to over 23% on Saturday.
That’s an increase of 20% in just a week.
Doctors are feeling optimistic that more beds are available in the Bay Area. On January 11, ICU availability in the region fell to less than 1%. Now that it is over 23%, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said it is a sign of hope.
“Everything is consistent with moving in the right direction at the moment, we are five times what we saw in October instead of nine times as we saw a few weeks ago,” he said.
The encouraging news comes as many in the Bay Area are wondering when the stay home order can be lifted.
On Saturday, three doctors in Contra Costa County sent another letter to the county health officer questioning the closure.
The letter read: “Over the past month, data continues to accumulate to support our view that lockdowns imposed by Contra Costa County do more harm than good. Residents of Contra Costa suffer greatly. “
Laura Magu, owner of Rev restaurant in Lafayette, agrees.
“My busboy can’t work from home, my servers can’t work from home,” she said. “Give us some proof.”
California’s regional order should be lifted when ICU bed availability is expected to exceed 15% four weeks ahead.
Now the state says the Bay Area is not meeting that benchmark, but it has also not provided details on how that projection is calculated.
The opening of new COVID vaccination sites in the Bay Area will also help.
Chin-Hong said he views the latest improvements in ICU numbers with cautious hope.
“My feeling and hope is just like the public schools, I believe businesses will soon resume,” he said.