With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
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.”
Sponsored message
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:
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
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
