Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Department of Defense Medical Team Assisting With Pandemic Response In Riverside
FILE PHOTO: A mask used to help prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
A team of approximately 20 federal military medical personnel are providing support treating COVID-19 patients in Riverside County.
The team arrived Thursday at the Riverside University Health System-Medical Center to support hospitals in the region that are strained by a crush of patients requiring hospitalization and intensive care treatment.
The DOD team consists of physician assistants, nurses, and respiratory care practitioners from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, all active duty military personnel. The team came as part of request from the state of California to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal support to medical facilities in the state.
“Riverside County hospitals have been stretched well-beyond their licensed capacities to treat a record numbers of patients,” said Bruce Barton, director of the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department, in a statement. “These resources are critical to help our region treat more of our residents and get through this hospital surge.”
On Friday, there were 3,514 new reported COVID-19 cases and 29 additional deaths in Riverside County; there have been 207,841 cases and 2,218 deaths to date in Riverside County due to the pandemic.
OVERALL LOOK AT RIVERSIDE COUNTY NUMBERS:
Sponsored message
Here's a look at longer-term trends in the county. To see more, visit our California COVID-19 Tracker and choose Riverside or any other California county that interests you. These numbers are current as of Friday, Jan. 8.
READ MORE:
For First Time, LA County Reports More Than 300 COVID Deaths On A Single Day
- Your No-Panic Guide To LA Life, And The New (And Changing) Coronavirus Rules
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
