The COVID-19 surge continues on the Central and South Coasts, with nearly three thousand new cases in the region during the last three days. The numbers are tough. Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties had a combined 2951 new cases reported for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Breaking it down by county, Ventura County had 2049 cases over the three days. Santa Barbara County had 559, and San Luis Obispo County 343. The overall total has pushed past 55,100.
There have been 418 coronavirus-related deaths in the region since the start of the pandemic.
The hospital intensive care unit capacity for the 11-county Southern California region remains at zero percent. Remember, when it dropped below 15%, it triggered the new stay-at-home orders for our area. But, on their own, Ventura County has 2.2% available capacity, and Santa Barbara County is at 38% capacity.
California Governor Gavin Newsom says there is a good chance that the stay at home order now in effect for Southern California will be extended past its original expiration date next week into the new year.
