Kern County ICU beds availability at 19%, positioned well for uptick in cases

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Kern County will remain under the state's regional stay-at home order through Christmas as the ICU bed availability in the San Joaquin Valley region is currently under 6% but in Kern County, officials say that number is much higher.

Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Kern Ryan Alsop told 23ABC the ICU bed availability rate is around 19% as of Wednesday, above the state's 15% mandate.

Alsop said although the region as a whole is failing to meet this metric, the county is positioned well to deal with an uptick in cases.