By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

August 23, 2021 (Del Norte/Tuolomne/Lake/Humboldt/Nevada/Mendocino Counties) - Hospitals in six rural California counties — all in remote, northern parts of the state  — are now treating more COVID-19 patients than ever, breaking records by exceeding their winter surges.