California hospitals near breaking point as Covid cases soar

State short on ICU beds and healthcare workers amid 70% increase in ICU admissions in two weeks

Hospitals across California are reaching a breaking point amid a shortage of ICU beds and healthcare workers, as the state faces its worst surge in Covid cases since the pandemic began.

Millions of Californians are back under the nation's strictest lockdown, but hospitalisations are already at record levels. The state has seen a roughly 70% increase in ICU admissions in just two weeks, leaving just 1,700 of its 7,800 ICU beds available.