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In this file photo, supervisors get ready to begin at a 2 p.m. Tuesday meeting.

 Alex Horvath / The Californian

The Kern County Board of Supervisors took action Tuesday to expand intensive care unit capacity, as local hospitals are pushed to the limit with a surge in COVID-19 patients.

Although some beds remain available, hospitals have struggled to staff intensive care units, limiting the number of patients who can be treated. On Tuesday, supervisors voted to approve a $12 million contract with RightSourcing Inc. to bring in nurses from around the country and expand ICU beds by 17 percent.

You can reach Sam Morgen at 661-395-7415. You may also follow him on Twitter @smorgenTBC.