One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Hospitals Brace For The Crush Of New Cases As Coronavirus Spreads
View of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles County officials reported the biggest jump in new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total to 144.
There are about 100 hospitals spread across the county, and they’re all doing what they can to prepare for the rising case numbers.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, with the L.A. County’s Department of Health Services, says they’re all implementing disaster plans. Among them:
“Discharging patients when safe to do so, bringing in additional staffing resources, limiting or canceling elective procedures and admissions.”
Another big effort by hospital officials? Telling people only to use the ER for emergencies:
Sponsored message
“It is imperative that we preserve the hospital system and the 911 emergency response system for those who truly need it.”
- 650 ventilators (but officials are working to get more)
- 2,220 ICU beds
- 150 ICU beds currently available.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
