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.
Shuttered Long Beach Hospital Reopens Monday For Non-COVID Patients
The hospital was shuttered due to seismic concerns that have since been addressed. (Megan Garvey / LAist)
()
The shuttered Community Hospital Long Beach reopened Monday to help deal with the COVID-19 surge that is inundating area hospitals.
The hospital closed in 2018 after it was found to be sitting on an active earthquake fault line. But city officials say new leadership has spent more than $6 million over the past 18 months to reopen the hospital, including:
- replacing equipment and supplies
- fixing utility systems.
- catching up with deferred maintenance.
That means the facility, which first opened in 1924, now meets current seismic standards. With the improvements, the California Department of Public Health last week gave the hospital the green light to accept new patients.
The hospital will have 11 ICU beds, as well as space for 40 other patients who are not as critically ill.
Support for LAist comes from
Some important caveats: Only non-COVID patients will be treated, and walk-ins will not be accepted. The available beds are intended to free up space in other hospitals to focus on those with the virus.
As of late last week, there were more than 500 COVID-19 patients in Long Beach-area hospitals.
"With hospitals across our city and state at capacity, this reopening is critical for the safety and care of our community," said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. "Community Hospital is a local institution and I'm incredibly grateful to our hospital partners and the state for getting it open. We expect the hospital reopening to have an immediate impact on local capacity and our ability to save lives."
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.
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