Latest Benicia COVID-19 Case Count; ICU Bed Availability

BENICIA, CA — More than 2,000 Solano County residents were battling the coronavirus as of Wednesday, the most recent day for which data was available as of this writing. The COVID-19 case count continues to rise in Benicia and beyond.

Some 19,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Solano County since the beginning of the pandemic, including more than 500 in Benicia, according to county data.

Some 100 deaths countywide have been linked to COVID-19.

More than 130 COVID-19 patients in Solano County are hospitalized, with 11 percent of intensive care unit beds available. Statewide, hospital admissions appear to have plateaued in recent days. This is consistent with trends across the state, "the major exception" being Southern California, where Los Angeles County has been hit hardest, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.

The nine-county Bay Area plus Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, is seeing an average of 8.5 percent ICU capacity.

ICU capacity is the key factor state officials consider when determining whether a county may be removed from the regional stay-at-home order, which shut down outdoor dining, bars, salons and more, and set tighter restrictions on other sectors.

The stay-at-home order is slated to end Jan. 8 in the Bay Area, at which time state officials will review ICU availability projections four weeks in advance before determining whether Solano County and others may exit the stay-at-home order and return to the four-tiered, color-coded COVID-19 risk assessment system.