TUESDAY, Dec. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Plans for rationing lifesaving care are being considered by some hospitals in California as the state struggles with overwhelming numbers of COVID-19 patients.

California has more than twice as many hospitalized COVID-19 patients as it did at its previous peak in July, and models suggest there could be 75,000 patients by mid-January, the Associated Press reported.

In an attempt to deal with the deluge, hospitals are creating makeshift extra beds for COVID-19 patients, and four Los Angeles hospitals are considering what to do if faced with a shortage of beds or staff.

No plans for rationing care are in place, but could be needed because “the worst is yet to come,” said Los Angeles County’s health services director Dr. Christina Ghaly, the AP reported.

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