SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- San Diego hospitals are stepping in to help Imperial County as it deals with an influx of COVID-19 patients from Mexicali.
Officials say the influx is a result of U.S. citizens living in Mexicali, crossing back into the U.S. for medical treatment.
UC San Diego Health and Scripps Health officials both say they are treating COVID-19 patients that arrived from Imperial County.
A spokesperson for UC San Diego Health told 10News they currently have eight patients and are expecting more. The spokesperson says the hospital is 100% prepared to handle additional patients.
Scripps Health confirmed it has 10 patients from Imperial Valley. Five of them arrived on Monday, the other five arrived on Tuesday.
The diversion to San Diego is happening as Imperial County sees a spike in COVID-19 patients. On Tuesday, the El Centro Regional Medical Center stopped accepting coronavirus patients because of the overflow. On Wednesday, the hospital announced it was once again accepting patients.
The situation in Imperial Valley is similar to the South Bay in San Diego, that has seen a higher number of coronavirus positive cases, compared to the rest of the county. Local leaders have asked for more resources at the border.
