SoCal ICU still at 0% capacity while Marian Regional Medical Center maintains room for patients during pandemic

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - While Southern California's ICU remains at 0% during the holiday surge, Marian Regional Medical Center is staying on top in terms of maintaining enough capacity for patients.

"We’ve definitely seen a surge in patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19. We have put our surge plans in place," says Dr. Scott Robertson at Marian Regional Medical Center.

Doctors say they made plans for potential surges like this well in advance of it happening.

"We continue to have the need to care for patients in our hospital and the critical care unit. By putting our surge plans together, we’ve been able to expand the capacity and continue to care for those in need," says Robertson.

Doctors say they are monitoring the number of ventilators and nursing staff to ensure everyone gets the care they need.

As the pandemic continues, they are urging people people to continue taking infection prevention measures seriously.