COVID-19 hospitalizations reach new lows

Coronavirus hospitalizations in northern San Diego and southwestern Riversidencounties now stand at their lowest points in months, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Per a data release from March 8, which is based on statistics from hospitals across the nation for the seven days preceding Feb. 26, individuals with COVID-19 now make up just 10% of patients at Temecula Valley Hospital and 11% of those at Southwest Healthcare System (which includes Inland Valley and Rancho Springs medical centers in Wildomar and Murrieta, respectively), Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta and Palomar Medical Center Escondido.

As recently as January, many local hospitals were reporting that upwards of half of all patients were coronavirus-positive. At the peak of the third wave of the pandemic in January, Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta reported more than two-thirds of its patients were coronavirus-positive.

Here is a more detailed look at some of the most recent HHS data on local hospitals:

Temecula Valley Hospital

Total beds (7-day average): 138.7 (130.1 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 129.0 (120.4 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average):12.4 (18.7 last week)

ICU beds (7-day average): 20.1 (20.6 last week)

ICU beds used (7-day average): 18.7 (20.0 last week)

Southwest Healthcare System (Inland Valley and Rancho Springs medical centers)

Total beds (7-day average): 210.7 (224 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 200.9 (211.4 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 20.4 (27.7 last week)

ICU beds (7-day average): 25.6 (24.9 last week)

ICU beds used (7-day average): 23.0 (23.3 last week)

Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta

Total beds (7-day average): 145 (132.6 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 131.6 (121.1 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 14.6 (17.9 last week)

ICU beds (7-day average): 20.3 (21 last week)

ICU beds used (7-day average): 17.0 (17.7 last week)

Palomar Medical Center Escondido

Total beds (7-day average): 392.7 (400.9 last week)

Total inpatient beds used (7-day average): 269.1 (293.4 last week)

Total adults hospitalized, confirmed COVID-19 positive (7-day average): 32.9 (59.3 last week)

ICU beds (7-day average): 36.7 (44.9 last week)

ICU beds used (7-day average): 35 (44.9 last week)

Will Fritz can be reached by email at [email protected].