The COVID-19 surge pushes hospitals closer to being overwhelmed daily with only two staffed ICU beds available across Ventura County on Tuesday, officials said.
“Some of (the hospitals) are going to dive into crisis really soon,” said Steve Carroll, administrator of the Ventura Emergency Medical Services Agency. We are getting to a place where we are maxing out.”
Officials said 421 of the record 969 people in the area s eight hospitals on Wednesday were being treated for COVID. Of the 126 people in intensive care beds, 82 were being treated for the coronavirus.
The two staffed and available ICU beds on Tuesday increased a tick to five beds across the county on Wednesday.
Marianne Ratcliff,
Ojai Valley News editor
Most Ojai Unified School District elementary students will start back to school remotely for at least one week when school resumes after winter break on Jan. 4.
However, students in OUSD special day classes and Chaparral High School are able to return to their campuses for in-person instruction on Jan. 4.
ABC Clubs will also be open in person beginning Jan. 4 and there are plans for adding more hours to that program, with details to come, according to Superintendent Tiffany Morse.
In a Dec. 29 email to OUSD families, Morse wrote that distance learning will be an option for families not comfortable with their children being on campus for in-person instruction.
Don t let down your guard
Austin Widger,
Ojai Valley News reporter
“Don’t share your air!” is the message from three California health systems leaders, imploring all Californians to take stringent precautions against spreading COVID-19 during the holiday season.
“We need to keep the people that you want to spend time with … healthy and alive,” said Ventura County Public Health Officer Dr. Levin.
In counties under the regional Stay Home Order such as Ventura County and more than 90 percent of the state any type of gathering beyond one’s immediate household is prohibited. Ventura County residents are advised not to travel or gather with other households since the county is under a regional Stay Home Order.