In an effort to relieve hospitals whose staffs are sagging under the onslaught of surging coronavirus cases, California is opening a batch of co-called alternate care sites to care for patients who aren’t yet well enough to return home, but no longer require hospital-level care.

So far, the state’s Department of Social Services has announced six Residential Alternate Care Sites, including one in Indio that has a capacity of five patients.

The facilities are licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) or Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs).

Officials said patients will receive supervision and assistance with activities such as bathing and feeding, and can receive care by licensed nurses.

“The residents of adult and senior care facilities and are among California’s most vulnerable and are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19,”  CDSS Director Kim Johnson said Monday.  “During this unprecedented surge, these new temporary sites will help free up our hospitals and nursing facilities to care for those with the most acute needs, while providing residents a place to receive needed care and treatment as they recover from COVID-19.”

According to Riverside County officials, there were 1,675 coronavirus hospitalizations countywide on Monday.

That number includes 357 intensive care unit patients.

The 1,675 Covid-19 patients hospitalized in Riverside County represent 7/10th’s of 1% of the 216,275 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the County since March 2020.

Woman with elderly man in a wheelchair in a nursing home.

Photo by Alpha Media USA Portland OR