California's delta surge pushes COVID hospitalizations to their highest since April
With the now-dominant delta variant still on the rise in California, COVID-19 hospitalizations are also increasing, passing thresholds in the Bay Area and state not seen since the spring.
On Monday, confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in California crossed the 2,000 mark — with more than 500 of those patients in intensive care units — for the first time since early April, according to state data. Meanwhile, the Bay Area surpassed 300 hospitalizations for the first time since early April, and on Tuesday exceeded 100 ICU admissions for the first time since late March.
As of Tuesday, 61% of California residents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and evidence so far shows the vaccines offer strong protection against the delta variant. In the U.S., unvaccinated people account for 97% of COVID hospitalizations, and 99% of deaths, according to the CDC. Bay Area hospitals are similarly reporting that most COVID-19 admissions are patients who are not fully vaccinated.
But cases have been quickly rising. On Monday, the state reported more than 7,600 new cases, the first time that number has exceeded 7,000 since early February.
