Imperial County has the highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations in CA

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT), An unexpected increase in coronavirus cases this week led county health officials to ask for emergency aid from the state. 

60 COVID-19 patients total with 18 in the ICU is the current count between El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District. 

Health officials said that Imperial County has the highest per capita rate of coronavirus hospitalizations in California. 

“ 40.1 hospitalized patients per hundred thousand. That is currently the highest number in the state the closest to us again is a per capita number is Los Angeles which is 15.2 per hundred thousand,” said Dr. Stephen Munday, Imperial County Health Officer.

According to the county our population is roughly around 180,000 people. 

“Los Angeles county is number two, their rate is much smaller than ours, but when you think of the millions of people that live in la county, the actual number of cases is actually much higher there. So our rate will change substantially from day to day as the patients go into and out of the hospital.” said Munday. 

Between Monday and Tuesday the valley’s coronavirus cases increased by 27% calling for immediate help from the state. 

Within hours an ambulance strike team transferred about forty patients to hospitals outside the county on Tuesday. 

“As an ongoing process of staffing and clinical care level that isn’t there. I think that we sent 4 off to Scripps in San Diego, three off to Temecula and a couple off to Riverside County,” said Larry Lewis, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District CEO.  

In addition to the transfers, ECRMC received a team of 23 nurses from the state to help care for patients. 

“It’s a great thing to see them because it’s a relief for our current team and they’ve been seeing patients actually since about an hour and a half ago,” said Dr. Adolphe Edward,” ECRMC CEO.  

The county also confirmed that an 80-bed Federal Medical Station to treat COVID-19 patients was underway. 

With this added help Imperial County Chairman Luis Plancarte says he’s confident our hospitals and medical staff can meet the needs of our community.