Coronavirus updates: Sutter Health reports $1 billion loss; CA prisons to accept new inmates

The coronavirus pandemic has rocked almost every imaginable sector of the economy — and despite the public health crisis now facing hospital administrators, Sacramento-based Sutter Health is showing signs of major disruption.

In its first quarterly report of the year, the hospital system lost $1.08 billion.

This can be partially attributed to the fact that Sutter, like virtually all other medical systems, put a moratorium on elective procedures in mid-March, when the virus was beginning to take hold across the globe, in order to better prepare for an influx of COVID-19 patients.

Due to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide stay-at-home orders, fewer state residents have been going to the hospital. Patient visits dropped by 60 percent, and as a result, outpatient surgical procedures dropped by 73 percent by the end of April.

Fewer people outside also, predictably, means fewer accidents. Visits to the emergency room dropped by 43 percent.

But the dramatic decrease in patient volume meant some hospital workers didn’t have enough work. About 5,000 Sutter employees, which is about 10 percent of its workforce, didn’t have working hours enough to cover a full shift.

Sutter responded with a hiring freeze and launched cost-saving measures, such as limiting overtime. Costs of preparing for coronavirus, however, were steep. It spent $26 million to purchase N95 masks and other protective gear, another $4 million for ventilators and $2.4 million for COVID-19 testing.

“The need for Sutter to adjust its entire integrated network to respond to COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, a costly and difficult endeavor,” Sutter treasurer Jonathan Ma said. “Sutter anticipates in the near term at least a $300 million per month reduction in operating performance until containment of COVID-19. While Sutter’s liquidity remains sufficient, its future liquidity needs may change as the pandemic and economic outlook evolves.”

Coronavirus by the numbers

Coronavirus has infected 4.5 million people the world over, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University. One week ago, the global total hit 4 million. On April 27, it was 3 million. On April 15, less than two weeks before that, the world hit the 2 million mark. Two weeks before that, on April 2, it was 1 million.

More than 309,000 people have died globally during the pandemic, and 1.6 million patients have recovered after infection.

The United States currently accounts for more than a quarter of the world’s cases, with 1.4 million of its own coronavirus patients. More than 87,000 Americans have died of COVID-19.

Russia recently surpassed the United Kingdom in number of coronavirus cases after a surge. The vast transcontinental nation has seen about 272,000 cases of coronavirus and 2,500 deaths due to the virus thus far. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, has seen 241,000 cases and 34,000 deaths.

New York state, however, dwarfs even the hardest-hit European nations. There, 345,000 people have been infected by the virus and nearly 28,000 people have been killed. The largest concentration of infections in the state remains in New York City. More than 190,000 New Yorkers have been infected.

Nearby New Jersey is also a leading vector of infection, with 143,000 positive test results and 10,000 deaths.

California has fared better, with almost 77,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 3,100 deaths as of Saturday morning, according to Johns Hopkins. The Golden State currently has reported more cases than Canada, with 76,000, and fewer than China, with 84,000.

Los Angeles County, one of the most populous regions of the state, still remains a hotspot of infection in California. The county has seen 36,000 infections and more than 1,700 deaths.

Sacramento County reported 1,211 cases of coronavirus and 54 deaths as of Saturday morning, no change from Friday’s figures. On Friday, 17 new infections were announced. Three deaths were reported on Thursday, all stemming from Citrus Heights.

As of Friday, Yolo County reported 182 cases, up by three from Thursday, and 22 deaths. 15 of the county’s deaths were in people connected to Woodland’s Stollwood Convalescent Hospital.

Placer County reported 174 cases on Friday, up by two from Thursday, and eight deaths. The last death in the county was reported on April 15.

El Dorado has seen 64 cases as of Friday, up by four from Thursday, and no deaths.

CA prisons to accept more prisoners

Despite outbreaks that have concerned inmate activists, the California prison system will begin accepting new prisoners from county jails starting May 26, a move that will bring in thousands of people during the pandemic.

Thus far, 648 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the California Department of Corrections. Five inmates, all of whom were at the California Institution for Men in Chino, which has seen a fierce outbreak that accounts for more than half of all cases in the prison system.

Some activists, pointing to CIM as a worst case scenario, have argued that the close quarters of prisons and difficulty in quarantining populations makes prisons a perfect breeding ground for coronavirus.

At CIM, inmates have been treated in tents, with separate porta potties and sinks.

“The seriousness of the situation at CIM cannot be overstated,” lawyers for the Berkeley-based Prison Law Office wrote in a federal court filing.

Inmates’ attorneys argue that a rise in prison populations will produce a higher transmission rate of coronavirus.

“The resumption of intake without any additional releases will have two effects: first, an immediate rise in CDCR’s population from the two-month backlog, and second, an increase in movement of people throughout the system, as the current Reception Center population is transferred to other prisons and new people arrive from county jails to the Reception Centers,” the lawyers wrote.

CDCR halted prison intake on March 24, and extended it through May 25. Advocates have been arguing for another postponement. The agency has 18,000 tests available for inmates each month.

Some areas of Folsom Lake reopen

California State Parks reopened parts of Folsom Lake’s recreation area Friday, as the surrounding counties begin to slowly reopen as well.

Several park entrances now allow public access. Visitors are now welcome at Granite Bay and Beals Point in Placer County, Brown’s Ravine and the Folsom Lake Marina in El Dorado County, and Folsom Point, Negro Bar and Nimbus Flat in Sacramento County.

Both Placer and El Dorado counties have been allowed by the state to begin the process of easing back coronavirus restrictions. Sacramento County, which has access to a relatively small amount of beachfront, has not.

Despite the opening locations, officials urge visitors to special precautions to remain safe during the pandemic.

“As California State Parks begins working with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved, it is important for visitors to continue to practice physical distancing and avoid congregating with people outside their immediate household,” state parks officials said in a news release. “Everyone has the responsibility to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

Offcials are asking anyone who visits to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet with any other visitors, wear face coverings and bring hand sanitizer or soap.

Parking is still limited in the recreation area, but motorized boating is permitted on the water. Day facilities, restrooms and boat launches are open, but concessions, campgrounds and visitor centers remain closed.

Butte County service exposes dozens to COVID-19

A Butte County congregation that hosted a Mother’s Day service inadvertently exposed more than 180 people to coronavirus after health officials determined that a patient with COVID-19 attended.

Butte County Public Health did not name the congregation, but it has been notifying those who attended that they were exposed to the highly contagious virus and are asking them to self-quarantine.

The patient received a positive test result a day after the service and is currently in home isolation.

Although Butte County has been approved to move ahead through Gov. Newsom’s Phase 2 plan, which allows some businesses to reopen, no county is currently permitted to host gatherings of any size, including religious services.

County health officials said that unauthorized gatherings may slow down the reopening process.

“At this time, organizations that hold in-person services or gatherings are putting the health and safety of their congregations, the general public and our local ability to open up at great risk,” said Danette York, director of Butte County Public Health. “Moving too quickly through the reopening process can cause a major setback and could require us to revert back to more restrictive measures. We implore everyone to follow the state order and our reopening plan to help combat the potential spread of COVID-19.”

What is COVID-19? How is the coronavirus spread?

Coronavirus is spread through contact between people within 6 feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The CDC says it’s possible to catch the disease COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”

Symptoms of the virus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. Most develop only mild symptoms, but some people develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. The disease is especially dangerous to the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.

Sacramento Bee reporters Cathie Anderson, Sam Stanton and Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 11:19 AM.