Sacramento County has seen a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 positive patients who have had to be hospitalized, according the director of the Department of Health Services. Dr. Peter Beilenson said Tuesday that on May 27th the county only had eight people confirmed to be hospitalized with the virus, and only six were receiving treatment in an intensive care unit. Those numbers jumped in just under two weeks, he said. Current data shows there are currently 33 people who have required hospital care after testing positive and 14 in an ICU.
County health officials claim contact tracing investigations show that the majority of these new hospitalizations are mostly due to private gatherings of family and friends.
Beilenson calls the spike "very concerning." The news comes as virus related restrictions are relaxed and more sectors of the regional economy continue to reopen.
"We understand that people want to be sociable, but we ask that people be sensible," cautioned Beilenson. "Continue to social distance from each other, practice safe hygiene, stay isolated if you are sick, and take responsibility for your own health and the health of our community."
According to local health officials, Sacramento County now has 1,624 confirmed cases of the virus and 61 deaths. The people who have died were reportedly either age 65 or older. Some also had underlying health conditions which made them more susceptible.
Statewide, COVID-19 has claimed 4,653 lives. State health officials said 131,319 people have tested positive.