Overwhelmed hospital braces for next COVID surge

As U.S. coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising, health officials are warning of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.

One hospital in the high desert of Southern California has been seeing that scenario being played out for the last month, resulting in the reinstallation of a triage tent in their parking lot.

"It's a little bit of a disaster mode that we're in," said Mendy Hickey, the executive director of nursing at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, California.

The tent was filled to capacity with ill COVID-19 patients last winter, but was removed after that surge ended.

Now, inside the San Bernardino County hospital's emergency department, patients wait in beds lining the hallways due to lack of rooms.

"We're overly exhausted," said emergency room nurse Jahmaal Willis. "You know, it's starting to remind me of last year. It's kind of a PTSD situation."

Due to a lack of DNA typing, the hospital doesn't know what variant they're currently dealing with. But Hickey is still concerned about a possible Omicron-fueled surge in a few weeks.

"We are worried that there'll be a peak after Christmas mid-January, yes," she said. So if we're busy now and we get even busier after Christmas, that's going to be really hard to manage."

One of the hospital's COVID-19 patients was hopeful to be released soon after nearly 10 days of being admitted. Mindful of not being vaccinated, Antionette Kelley, 59, was worried about catching the next coronavirus variant.

"I can't believe that I didn't get the shot," she said. "And I will be getting one because I don't want to do this again."

California is doing a lot better compared to other states in terms of the virus' spread. Of everyone tested for the virus in California, just 3.3% test positive — the lowest rate in the nation, Newsom said. California has the sixth-lowest case rate, with 13.6 new cases for every 100,000 people over seven days.

Much about the omicron coronavirus variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads even easier than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing an omicron infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County — the nation's most populous with nearly 10 million residents — reported more than 6,500 new cases, more than double the amount from Tuesday. Local health officials said the county could have more than 20,000 cases per day by the end of the year.

Barbara Ferrer, the county's public health director, said officials are not considering any booster requirements beyond the state's new rules for health care workers. More than 2 million residents in Los Angeles County who are over the age of 5 remain unvaccinated. And 62% of residents who are eligible to receive a booster shot have not done so.

Statewide, more than 8.8 million Californians have gotten a booster shot so far.

"We need to increase that number if we're going to hold the line and decrease the growth for hospitals," Newsom said.

While hospitals have far fewer coronavirus patients than they did a year ago, most are struggling with a shortage of health care workers. A recent study by the University of California, San Francisco estimated a statewide nursing shortage would persist until at least 2026.