Despite Decrease in ICU Patients, Huntington Hospital COVID-19 Numbers Still High

Despite a drop in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), officials at Huntington Hospital are still encouraging local residents to remain mindful of following COVID-19 guidelines.

On Tuesday, 26 of the hospital’s 129 coronavirus patients were being treated in the hospital’s ICU. Despite the decrease, those numbers are still higher than the peak experienced in Spring 2020. 

“We are encouraged by the drop in COVID-19 positive hospitalizations. However, with the Super Bowl and the upcoming holiday weekend, we remain prepared for a possible influx of patients. Our emergency tents are used as needed, depending on the volume of patients in the emergency department,” said Dorey Huston, Huntington Hospital’s senior manager of public relations and media. 

“The upcoming weeks will be a true test for the community,” Huston continued. “While we are optimistic about the vaccine, there is still a very high density of COVID-19 in our community. It’s important that we don’t let our guard down and continue to protect ourselves with masks, social distancing, avoid large groups and be sure to make an appointment to receive the vaccine when it is available to you.”

Hospitalizations across LA County have declined since the year began, with more than 1 million people in LA County being vaccinated.

But, according to a City News Service report published Monday, a “shockingly” low percentage of doses of the vaccine have gone to Black residents, with roughly half of the available doses going to white and Latino people.

According to statistics released Monday by the county Department of Public Health, the county has received more than 1.28 million doses of the vaccine as of Feb. 4, and more than 1.05 million doses — about 82% — have been administered.

But breaking down those doses by ethnic groups showed a major disparity, with 25% of people receiving at least one dose listed as white, 25% as Hispanic, 18% as Asian, and just 3.5% as Black. Statistics on other ethnic minorities were not immediately available.

“Shockingly, Black residents have received only 3.5% of all administered doses, highlighting a glaring inadequacy in the vaccine rollout to date,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.

Ferrer noted that since the early priority list for the vaccine includes healthcare workers, some of those workers receiving the vaccine may not actually be county residents. But when looking solely at residents 65 and over who are eligible to receive the shots, “Black residents have the lowest vaccination rate of all racial and ethnic groups at 7.2%, and this is less than half the rate of white residents and a third the rate of Pacific Islanders.”

Two weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted the state’s stay at home order, saying data revealed that the region’s ICU capacity would be at 15% in late February.

Since then, the local COVID-19 rate has reached its lowest level in nearly three months, as the average daily cases decreased to 35.3.

If the daily rate lowers to 25 or below and holds at that rate for five days, local schools will have the option to reopen. On Monday, the City Council received letters calling for local schools to reopen.

“As our elected officials, I beg you, do something for our kids. Be better, think creatively,” said Mary Forrest. “Work with these unions. Our kids’ lives are counting on this. It’s your turn to make this the highest priority because not it most definitely is.