A small increase in the number of people hospitalized for coronavirus treatment in Santa Clara County in the past five weeks probably resulted from relaxation of restrictions in the middle of last month, county health officer Dr. Sara Cody said in a Board of Supervisors meeting Monday.
“We are beginning to see a little bit of an uptick in our hospitalizations which likely reflects the easing we did in the middle of May,” Cody told the board.
On May 22, county officials cited “substantial progress” in slowing Covid-19 spread, and approved resumption of some business and personal activities including curb-side retail pickup, manufacturing, warehousing, visiting outdoor historical sites, and car parades, with limitations. However, shelter in place restrictions remain in effect and residents are encouraged to continue social distancing practices.
County health data show an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations started after May 31 when 38 people were hospitalized, rising to 73 by Monday, an increase of 35 people.
Cody did not elaborate on the data. The county did not immediately respond to questions.
Coronavirus hospitalizations in the county had been in declining steadily since a peak of around 250 patients in early April. The count fell to a new low on May 31 with 38 patients. The current number still remains significantly lower than the count of about 100 in the days immediately preceding the May 22 health order easing restrictions.
County health data show no “surge” beds have been used for coronavirus patients in the past five weeks, indicating hospitals have had sufficient room to handle the increase.
San Mateo County on June 6 issued a similar order to Santa Clara’s May 22 order, and that county’s coronavirus hospitalizations increased slightly after the order, from 53 on June 4 to 58 on Monday. In San Francisco County, hospitalizations from the virus stood at 62 when officials allowed similar easing of restrictions May 17, and the number as of Friday was 36, after a fairly steady though somewhat bumpy decline.
