By Marcy Axness, TME

Kern County has worked its way back from a terrifying brink. As of September 8, its available hospital intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity stands at 51, and there are just 26 current ICU covid-positive patients.

Just over one month ago, Kern County public health’s Matt Constantine gave a grim update to the Board of Supervisors. As of July 28, just as predicted by a June model issued by the state [see graph, right], the county’s ICU capacity had been exceeded. There were only ten ICU beds (and staff) available. There were 76…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

This modeling of Kern County’s ICU capacity and demand came from the state of California in June. We have updated the actual-case line (red), with input from Michelle Corson of Kern County Public Health.

Well over half of Kern County’s total covid case count (30,371) is made up of those ages 18 to 49—18,885 as of September 9, 2020.

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This is part of the September 11, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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