Tulare County hospitals are contending with another spike in COVID-19 patients, leaving medical centers nearly full before an anticipated surge of Thanksgiving holiday-borne infections.

On Monday, Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia reached 90% capacity, according to CEO Gary Herbst. In the past few weeks, COVID-19 hospitalizations have exploded from a low of 14 patients to a near-record 78 patients — numbers not seen since the summer.

“It’s a little disconcerting that (the virus) is as powerful as it is right now. We were expecting a bit of a lull before Thanksgiving,” Herbst said.

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