California issued a new health order Jan. 5 that delays nonessential surgeries at hospitals in counties where ICU capacity is diminished, CBS Sacramento reports.
The order, which will be in effect for at least three weeks, postpones nonessential surgeries in counties with less than 10 percent ICU capacity where the regional ICU capacity is zero percent.
Procedures affected include nonurgent orthopedic and spine surgeries. Emergency surgeries, such as cancer and heart procedures, will continue, according to the report.
For the last two weeks, the state's COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased by 17 percent and ICU admission by 21 percent, CBS reports.
The order comes soon after hospitals in California's Central Valley enacted elective surgery bans to prioritize staff and resources for its worst COVID-19 surge.