Counties with the lowest hospital bed capacity in California
Stan Shebs // Wikicommons
Counties with the lowest hospital bed capacity in California
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.
The United States as of Feb. 24 reached 942,985 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 78.7 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64.8% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 43.4% have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the lowest in-patient bed capacity in California using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the percent of in-patient hospital beds filled as of Feb. 23, with the percent of hospital beds filled by COVID-19 patients serving as a tiebreaker. Hospitalization data was available for about 77% of counties in the U.S. Keep reading to see what hospital capacity looks like in your county.
Trance addict // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Glenn County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 40.0% (5.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 50.0% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: data not available
— 83% full in California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 123 (35 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.1% (15,349 fully vaccinated)
— -23.0% lower vaccination rate than California
Chmee2 // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Siskiyou County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 54.0% (19.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 32.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 59.0% (39.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 28.9% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 163 (71 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.7% (20,782 fully vaccinated)
— -32.1% lower vaccination rate than California
Basar // Wikicommons
#48. San Luis Obispo County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 55.0% (6.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 31.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 50.0% (10.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 39.8% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 168 (475 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.3% (179,276 fully vaccinated)
— -10.0% lower vaccination rate than California
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Tuolumne County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 58.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 27.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 60.0% (29.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 27.7% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 363 (198 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.4% (27,995 fully vaccinated)
— -26.9% lower vaccination rate than California
Scott Burley // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Modoc County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 58.0% (6.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 27.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: data not available
— 83% full in California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 102 (9 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
CleanWater17 // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Colusa County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 62.0% (17.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 22.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: data not available
— 83% full in California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 204 (44 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.1% (12,737 fully vaccinated)
— -15.9% lower vaccination rate than California
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Lassen County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 63.0% (7.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 21.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: data not available
— 83% full in California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 569 (174 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 28.4% (8,696 fully vaccinated)
— -59.6% lower vaccination rate than California
Pixabay
#43. Santa Barbara County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 64.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 20.0% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 84.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.2% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 233 (1,040 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.1% (303,980 fully vaccinated)
— -3.1% lower vaccination rate than California
Jennifer Williams // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Alameda County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 65.0% (8.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 18.8% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 71.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 14.5% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 106 (1,772 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.4% (1,344,081 fully vaccinated)
— 14.4% higher vaccination rate than California
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Amador County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 67.0% (17.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 16.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 90.0% (48.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 244 (97 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (20,580 fully vaccinated)
— -26.3% lower vaccination rate than California
Craig Howell // Wikimedia Commons
#40. San Mateo County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 70.0% (10.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 69.0% (16.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 16.9% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 107 (821 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 83.4% (639,194 fully vaccinated)
— 18.6% higher vaccination rate than California
Public Domain
#39. Madera County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 70.0% (20.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 85.0% (27.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 491 (772 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (83,533 fully vaccinated)
— -24.5% lower vaccination rate than California
Naotake Murayama // Wikicommons
#38. Monterey County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 71.0% (10.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 11.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 64.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 22.9% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 383 (1,661 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.9% (307,745 fully vaccinated)
— 0.9% higher vaccination rate than California
Cory Maylett // Wikimedia Commons
#37. Humboldt County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 71.0% (12.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 11.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 77.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 239 (324 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.2% (88,403 fully vaccinated)
— -7.3% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#36. Del Norte County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 72.0% (16.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 10.0% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 98.0% (26.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 18.1% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 572 (159 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.6% (12,968 fully vaccinated)
— -33.7% lower vaccination rate than California
Mark Miller // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Merced County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 73.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.8% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 69.0% (33.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 16.9% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 770 (2,139 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.1% (139,029 fully vaccinated)
— -28.7% lower vaccination rate than California
Hollywood // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Orange County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 73.0% (7.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.8% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 74.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 10.8% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 77 (2,450 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.6% (2,274,081 fully vaccinated)
— 1.8% higher vaccination rate than California
Aaronbrick // Wikicommons
#33. Santa Cruz County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 73.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.8% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 85.0% (21.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 248 (678 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.2% (202,696 fully vaccinated)
— 5.5% higher vaccination rate than California
Canva
#32. Ventura County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 73.0% (13.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.8% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 87.0% (20.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 4.8% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 119 (1,005 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.9% (599,525 fully vaccinated)
— 0.9% higher vaccination rate than California
Public Domain
#31. Stanislaus County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 74.0% (15.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 79.0% (28.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 4.8% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 252 (1,386 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.6% (305,965 fully vaccinated)
— -20.9% lower vaccination rate than California
CFang // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Lake County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 74.0% (19.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 98.0% (27.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 18.1% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 550 (354 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.9% (34,690 fully vaccinated)
— -23.3% lower vaccination rate than California
SD Dirk // Flickr
#29. San Diego County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 75.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 6.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 77.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 279 (9,318 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.9% (2,433,131 fully vaccinated)
— 3.7% higher vaccination rate than California
BDS2006 // Wikimedia
#28. Los Angeles County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 78.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 76.0% (15.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.4% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 225 (22,577 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.0% (7,228,019 fully vaccinated)
— 2.4% higher vaccination rate than California
Daniel Orth // Flickr
#27. Riverside County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 78.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.5% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 77.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 178 (4,397 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (1,423,613 fully vaccinated)
— -18.1% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#26. San Francisco County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 79.0% (7.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 75.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 9.6% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 128 (1,128 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 82.8% (729,998 fully vaccinated)
— 17.8% higher vaccination rate than California
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Nevada County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 79.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 84.0% (42.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.2% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 120 (120 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.3% (62,131 fully vaccinated)
— -11.4% lower vaccination rate than California
Cbl62 // Wikicommons
#24. Imperial County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 79.0% (24.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 87.0% (45.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 4.8% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 393 (712 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 88.4% (160,264 fully vaccinated)
— 25.7% higher vaccination rate than California
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Yuba County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 79.0% (12.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 93.0% (40.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.0% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 207 (163 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.9% (37,690 fully vaccinated)
— -31.9% lower vaccination rate than California
EPoelzl // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Mariposa County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 79.0% (0.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more availability than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: data not available
— 83% full in California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 227 (39 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.7% (7,522 fully vaccinated)
— -37.8% lower vaccination rate than California
Epolk // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Yolo County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 81.0% (8.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 77.0% (27.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 148 (326 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.4% (153,038 fully vaccinated)
— -1.3% lower vaccination rate than California
MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Contra Costa County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 81.0% (10.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.3% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 77.0% (21.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 122 (1,403 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 81.2% (936,167 fully vaccinated)
— 15.5% higher vaccination rate than California
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
#19. Santa Clara County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 82.0% (9.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 90.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 145 (2,792 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 84.6% (1,631,051 fully vaccinated)
— 20.3% higher vaccination rate than California
LPS.1 // Wikicommons
#18. San Joaquin County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 82.0% (15.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 94.0% (40.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 13.3% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 168 (1,284 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (454,725 fully vaccinated)
— -15.1% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#17. San Bernardino County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 83.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 3.7% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 72.0% (19.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 13.3% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 132 (2,868 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.7% (1,214,195 fully vaccinated)
— -20.8% lower vaccination rate than California
Doug Kerr // Wikicommons
#16. Shasta County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 83.0% (16.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 3.7% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 79.0% (25.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 4.8% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 132 (238 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.8% (82,476 fully vaccinated)
— -34.9% lower vaccination rate than California
Michael Patrick // Wikimedia Commons
#15. San Benito County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 83.0% (11.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 3.7% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 89.0% (46.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.2% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 185 (116 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.6% (44,356 fully vaccinated)
— 0.4% higher vaccination rate than California
DimiTalen // Wikimedia Commons
#14. El Dorado County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 83.0% (13.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 3.7% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 92.0% (25.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 10.8% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 175 (338 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.2% (116,105 fully vaccinated)
— -14.4% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#13. Tulare County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 84.0% (21.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 5.0% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 82.0% (22.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 307 (1,430 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (247,419 fully vaccinated)
— -24.5% lower vaccination rate than California
Binksternet // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Mendocino County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 84.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 5.0% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 85.0% (22.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 270 (234 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.5% (58,598 fully vaccinated)
— -4.0% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#11. Butte County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 86.0% (16.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 59.0% (19.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 28.9% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 264 (579 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.3% (114,584 fully vaccinated)
— -25.6% lower vaccination rate than California
Canva
#10. Solano County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 86.0% (12.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 7.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 85.0% (24.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 2.4% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 295 (1,321 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.6% (293,867 fully vaccinated)
— -6.7% lower vaccination rate than California
Fred Hsu // Wikicommons
#9. Sonoma County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 87.0% (8.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 8.7% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 73.0% (12.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.0% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 156 (773 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.3% (382,040 fully vaccinated)
— 10.0% higher vaccination rate than California
Canva
#8. Sacramento County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 89.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 11.3% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 88.0% (16.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 6.0% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 170 (2,631 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.2% (1,028,088 fully vaccinated)
— -5.8% lower vaccination rate than California
Doug Olson // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Placer County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 90.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 75.0% (18.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 9.6% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 131 (521 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.1% (263,485 fully vaccinated)
— -6.0% lower vaccination rate than California
Armona // Wikicommons
#6. Kings County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 90.0% (30.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 84.0% (35.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.2% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 568 (869 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.0% (67,278 fully vaccinated)
— -37.4% lower vaccination rate than California
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Tehama County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 90.0% (32.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 93.0% (54.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 12.0% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 284 (185 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.3% (27,541 fully vaccinated)
— -39.8% lower vaccination rate than California
Kglavin // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Marin County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 91.0% (7.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 13.8% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 70.0% (17.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 15.7% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 73 (189 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 86.4% (223,706 fully vaccinated)
— 22.9% higher vaccination rate than California
nickchapman // Wikicommons
#3. Kern County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 91.0% (15.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 13.8% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 82.0% (25.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 1.2% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 426 (3,836 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.3% (471,221 fully vaccinated)
— -25.6% lower vaccination rate than California
David Jordan // Wikicommons
#2. Fresno County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 91.0% (21.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 13.8% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 88.0% (33.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 6.0% more full than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 317 (3,170 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.8% (597,160 fully vaccinated)
— -14.9% lower vaccination rate than California
Stan Shebs // Wikicommons
#1. Napa County, CA
– Inpatient beds occupied: 94.0% (8.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 17.5% more full than California overall
– ICU beds occupied: 79.0% (14.0% by COVID-19 patients)
— 4.8% more availability than California overall
– Cases per 100k in last 7 days: 249 (343 cases)
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.9% (107,235 fully vaccinated)
— 10.8% higher vaccination rate than California
