UNION CITY (KPIX) – California health officials say the number of available ICU beds in the San Francisco Bay Area continues to drop to 6.3 percent by Friday. As a result, many Bay Area health experts claim that the home order that would only expire next week is likely to be extended. San Francisco has already done that.
The possibility of a long-term ban on outdoor meals worries many restaurant operators. The owner of Mexico Tipico in Union City has invested thousands of dollars in its outdoor setup and heat lamps. He hoped to use it again next week.
“All the restaurants in this area are affected because there are no more businesses,” said Ricardo Soto, who runs Mexico Tipico. “The families that come down want to enjoy food at the table, and not take it with them.”
According to Soto, an extension of the ban on outdoor meals could lead to more layoffs at its restaurant, but several restaurateurs said they were not surprised by the prospect of an extension.
‘We have turned so many times that I am tired of the turn. I feel like I’m falling off, ”says Eric Nielsen, a business partner at two San Jose restaurants. “We are worried. Again, it feels indefinite. Even though we are open at the end of February, what does it look like? Like, are we actually open to eating out again? And if we are, I hope the public comes out again. ‘
David Canepa, supervisor of San Mateo County, said he feels for the small businesses, but he said the ICU capacity is dire and that is what the state is looking at when implementing the health order.
“Right now we’re in a life-saving mode, make no mistake about it. The actions we take today will therefore ensure that we are protected in the future, ”Canepa said.
The supervisor said about 5 percent of the ICU beds in the country are currently available. He urges the county’s health department to extend the health order and follow San Francisco’s guidance.
“We do not even calculate the December 25 numbers, the Christmas numbers and on top of that the New Year numbers,” supervisor Canepa said.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong is a specialist in infectious diseases at UCSF. He said hospitals are likely to see more COVID patients in the coming days due to holiday gatherings.
‘It’s inevitable that we’ll have a boom (due to the Thanksgiving holiday) on top of a boom (due to Christmas) on top of a boom (of illegal New Year’s Eve parties). If you look at the journey around Christmas, for example, it exceeded Thanksgiving, which was already the highest travel period for the year, ”said dr. Chin-Hong said.
He said the number of COVID patients should decrease by the end of January.