UNION CITY (KPIX) – California health officials said the number of available ICU beds in the San Francisco Bay Area continues to decline to 6.3 percent on Friday. For many Bay Area health professionals, that’s why the stay-at-home order that initially expires will likely be extended next week. San Francisco has already done that.
The possibility of a long-term ban on outdoor dining is a cause for concern for many restaurant owners. Mexico owner Tipico in Union City invested thousands of dollars in his outdoor setup and heat lamps. He hoped to use them again next week.
“All restaurants in this area are affected because there are no business now,” said Ricardo Soto, Mexico Tipico’s manager. “The families who come down want to enjoy food at the table, not take it away.”
Soto said an extension of the outdoor dining ban could lead to more layoffs at his restaurant, but several restaurateurs said they are not surprised at the prospect of an extension.
“We’ve played so many times that I’m tired of playing. I feel like I’m falling down, ”said Eric Nielsen, a business associate in two downtown San Jose restaurants. “We’re concerned. Again, this feels indefinite. Even though we’re open at the end of February, what does that look like? Are we actually open again to eat outside? And if so, I hope the public will go out again. coming. “
San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa said he feels for the small businesses, but said ICU capacity is dire and that’s what the state is looking at when imposing the health mandate.
“Right now we are in lifesaving mode, make no mistake about that. So the actions we are taking today will really ensure that we are protected in the future, ”said Canepa.
The supervisor said that about 5 percent of the county’s ICU beds are currently available. He is urging the county health department to renew the health mandate and follow San Francisco’s lead.
“We don’t even calculate the December 25th figures, the Christmas figures and the New Years figures,” said supervisor Canepa.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong is a specialist in infectious diseases at UCSF. He said hospitals are likely to see more COVID patients in the coming days due to holiday meetings.
“Inevitably we will have an increase (caused by the Thanksgiving holiday) on top of an increase (due to Christmas) on top of an increase (in illegal New Year’s Eve parties). For example, if you look at Christmas trips, it was actually more than Thanksgiving, which was already the highest travel period of the year, ”said Dr. Chin-Hong.
He said the number of COVID patients should decline by the end of January.