Thanksgiving surge begins. OC hospitals told to add space, cancel surgeries

With COVID-19 hospitalizations at a high, Orange County hospitals were being directed Thursday to implement surge plans and cancel elective surgeries in response to a “crisis” situation that could cause the emergency medical system to “collapse.” … “This is basically a Hail Mary pass,” said Andrew Noymer, a UC Irvine associate professor of population health and disease prevention, of the county’s directive to hospitals. “It illustrates the gravity of the situation,” Noymer said.