Sacramento County health officials on Thursday called for people to reserve emergency room and 911 resources for those who truly need it, as hospitalizations have soared to their highest levels since January. There were 348 cases of people hospitalized in the county with COVID-19, including 83 people in intensive care units as of Wednesday, Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said during a media briefing.She called for people to avoid calling 911 or using ambulances unless a person has a true emergency. She also said the county was aware of reports of people going to the ER to get tested for COVID-19 and urged people to visit free community testing sites instead. As the highly infectious delta variant drives an increase in COVID-19 cases, the county’s rate is now 27.5 people per 100,000, Kasirye said. That compares to a statewide average case rate of 23.7, according to California’s dashboard. Sacramento County’s case rate was 21.6 about two weeks ago and below 6 in late June.The county is now averaging about 400 to 500 new cases and two deaths per day, Kasirye also said. ‘Significant’ Demand for COVID-19 testing in Sacramento County Carlos Cossio, health care preparedness program coordinator for the county, cited a “significant” increase in demand for COVID-19 testing.Testing tripled over the past month with over 7,800 tests conducted just at community testing sites, compared to 2,400 tests performed in the earlier period, he said. As a result, the county is expanding hours and has hired more staff at 13 free testing sites run by the county that offer PCR or rapid antigen tests. Another testing option includes the county’s partnership with Curative at Cal Expo. | RELATED | Where to get free COVID-19 tests in Sacramento CountyCounty health officials stressed that no one should be billed for a COVID-19 if they take advantage of testing at the county’s community sites. That can include testing for people who may be doing so for travel or employment reasons. “At all of our community testing sites you don’t need to have a reason for coming,” Public Health Planner Liz Gomez said. Kasirye said that those who are getting tested for travel purposes should check with their destination on the requirements to make sure they’re getting the correct test. No countywide vaccine verification systemKasirye said that the county was not considering a countywide vaccine verification system but some businesses have reached out about verification and testing for indoor events.
Sacramento County health officials on Thursday called for people to reserve emergency room and 911 resources for those who truly need it, as hospitalizations have soared to their highest levels since January.
There were 348 cases of people hospitalized in the county with COVID-19, including 83 people in intensive care units as of Wednesday, Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said during a media briefing.
She called for people to avoid calling 911 or using ambulances unless a person has a true emergency. She also said the county was aware of reports of people going to the ER to get tested for COVID-19 and urged people to visit free community testing sites instead.
As the highly infectious delta variant drives an increase in COVID-19 cases, the county’s rate is now 27.5 people per 100,000, Kasirye said. That compares to a statewide average case rate of 23.7, according to California’s dashboard.
Sacramento County’s case rate was 21.6 about two weeks ago and below 6 in late June.
The county is now averaging about 400 to 500 new cases and two deaths per day, Kasirye also said.
‘Significant’ Demand for COVID-19 testing in Sacramento County
Carlos Cossio, health care preparedness program coordinator for the county, cited a “significant” increase in demand for COVID-19 testing.
Testing tripled over the past month with over 7,800 tests conducted just at community testing sites, compared to 2,400 tests performed in the earlier period, he said.
As a result, the county is expanding hours and has hired more staff at 13 free testing sites run by the county that offer PCR or rapid antigen tests. Another testing option includes the county’s partnership with Curative at Cal Expo.
| RELATED | Where to get free COVID-19 tests in Sacramento County
County health officials stressed that no one should be billed for a COVID-19 if they take advantage of testing at the county’s community sites. That can include testing for people who may be doing so for travel or employment reasons.
“At all of our community testing sites you don’t need to have a reason for coming,” Public Health Planner Liz Gomez said.
Kasirye said that those who are getting tested for travel purposes should check with their destination on the requirements to make sure they’re getting the correct test.
No countywide vaccine verification system
Kasirye said that the county was not considering a countywide vaccine verification system but some businesses have reached out about verification and testing for indoor events.