Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Newsom Says California Is Testing 10K A Day. Hospital Ship Now In LA Is Part Of Expanded Capacity
California Gov. Gavin Newsom welcomed the Navy hospital ship Mercy at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday, shortly after announcing a statewide moratorium on evictions for renters, effective through May 31.
The event took place even as reports of positive COVID-19 cases continued to accelerate in volume. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who joined the governor at the event, reiterated his warning that L.A. is on track to be where New York City is when it comes to treating coronavirus patients within 5 to 11 days.
Other key takeaways:
- Newsom said 88,400 coronavirus tests have taken place in California so far
- More than 10,000 tests are now being conducted per day.
- Results may arrive 6-8 days later.
- Newsom said, the state is working on lowering the amount of time it takes to process those results.
HOSPITALS AND STAFFING
Support for LAist comes from
The arrival of Mercy in L.A. immediately adds one-third more hospital beds to the current capacity in the city. Garcetti said once the ship is at its full capacity, it will add two-thirds more hospital beds to the city. The goal of sending the Mercy to the port here is to decompress the hospital system and to make room for a surge of coronavirus patients in the city's hospitals.
Here's where it stands statewide:
Newsom has said we need 50,000 additional hospital beds to handle the crisis. Plans call for 30,000 of those to come through the existing system while 20,000 are being procured by the state, including beds on the Mercy.
The state also is looking to tap more potential staff to deal with the expected surge in COVID-19 patients. Among options being considered: third- and fourth-year medical students. More than 2,000 trained medical professionals have offered their expertise in L.A. through an online portal, Garcetti said.
CLOSURES
Garcetti said that they are working to get businesses that aren't supposed to be open to voluntarily close, but that they are ready to enforce closures as needed. Newsom said that the National Guard will be helping at the state level to encourage compliance with state park closures, equipped with flyers rather than giving citations.
TUNE IN: Governor @GavinNewsom visits the USNS Mercy hospital ship with @MayorOfLA.
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) March 27, 2020
Watch live here @ approx. 1 PM. pic.twitter.com/Uo6WLjrBer
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist