COVID hospitalizations, deaths surge in California -- and worst is yet to come, CDC warns

San Francisco Chronicle / January 3, 2024

California witnessed a rapid increase in influenza activity and emergency department visits for COVID-19 during the third week of December. The surge — which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show continued nationally through the final week of December — is attributed to holiday gatherings, travel and the newly identified JN.1 coronavirus variant.

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California stands among the states with the highest respiratory virus activity, constituting almost 6.3% of all emergency department visits as of Dec. 23. Approximately 80% of the state’s inpatient beds were occupied, with nearly 70% of intensive care beds in use. COVID-19 deaths, meanwhile, increased by 31% week over week during the third week of December.

The CDC warns that the worst is yet to come. In its latest summary, the agency notes, “Seasonal influenza activity is elevated and increasing in most parts of the country. COVID-19 activity also remains elevated overall and is increasing in many areas.”

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This spike in infections coincides with a stall in vaccination numbers. Federal data indicates that only 18% of Americans have received the new coronavirus vaccine, while 42% have received the flu shot.

LINK (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/covid-flu-hospitalizations-rising-18587313.php

Highlights from the link:

• During the last week of December, close to 30,000 new patients were hospitalized for COVID-19, marking the highest recorded data since last January 2023

• More than 14,000 Americans were hospitalized for the flu

• Hospitals in at least four states, including California, have reinstated mask mandates