Bay Area ICU availability has jumped from 6.5% to 23.4%, according to the latest numbers from the state.
On Friday, the California Department of Public Health reported that the region’s intensive care unit availability was at 6.5%, but that number jumped to 23.4% on Saturday.
If the numbers hold, the Bay Area could be allowed to emerge from the state’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order sooner rather than later.
University of California, San Francisco Professor of Medicine Dr. Peter Chin-Hong expressed some skepticism about the sudden jump.
"Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited about this, but it would be great to see it sustained before we celebrate too early," Dr. Chin-Hong told KCBS Radio.
The regional stay-at-home order will be lifted once an area’s four-week ICU projection shows a capacity of greater than or equal to 15%. However, according to state data released Sunday, Projected ICU capacity remains below 15% in the Bay Area, which remains under the lockdown.
The San Joaquin Valley and Southern California regions also remain under the stay-at-home order.
Related
