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.
Kaiser Permanente Doctor: ‘We’re Overwhelmed’ By This Coronavirus Surge
A nurse adjusts her personal protective equipment (PPE) before caring for a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
()
The number of beds available in intensive care units across Southern California has been hovering just north of 10% for the last few days.
In San Bernardino County, it actually hit zero this weekend, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, and hospital staffers across the area are feeling the pain.
Here's Dr. Alex McDonald, who practices family medicine at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center:
“Our resources are being stretched so thin and we are just being overwhelmed. The wait time in the ER is mind boggling, and we’ve run out of beds upstairs in the hospital, so patients are sort of boarding in the ER.”
Support for LAist comes from
“There are patients everywhere you look,” said McDonald, speaking on our local news and culture show, Take Two. But the biggest issue is the physical and emotional well-being of the medical staff, because “health care workers are being stretched to their capacity,” he said.
On the positive side, McDonald said he and his colleagues have enough personal protective equipment and other basics to help get through this surge.
For its part, Kaiser Permanente said it has continued to refine its plans throughout the course of the pandemic in response to the changing conditions, including the ability to quickly monitor supplies and resupply medical centers, as needed.
McDonald implored everyone to do their part to curb the spread of this virus:
“Everyone needs to act like they have coronavirus all the time to protect everyone around them — and its those small social gathgerings where people let their guards down that seem to be the real driver of this surge.”
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
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
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist