These quarantines arent easy on anybody, he said.
But leaders have painted an increasingly bleak picture if Californians fail to heed guidelines.
Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, who was also in quarantine after his 9-year-old daughter tested positive for the virus, on Monday evening described the surge pummeling the nations second biggest city as the greatest challenge it has ever faced. He pleaded with Angelenos to stay home; theres not much more officials can do otherwise.
Theres not a lot left to close, he said.
[If you missed it, heres what to know about the regional stay at home orders.]
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the states secretary of health and human services, said in Mondays news conference that health care providers and state and local leaders were working frantically to prevent the states health care systems from tipping into what he and the governor described as crisis mode.
We continue to build up our capacity, he said. When we look forward to that forecast of quite a few patients toward the end of January thats not a story thats already been written.
But as has been the case in the last couple of months, making sure health care facilities are sufficiently staffed has been the biggest hurdle. Nurses, doctors, janitors and so many others are exhausted. Help from other states and the federal government is scarce as so much of the nation suffers from the rapid spread of Covid-19.
[See the intensive care unit capacity at hospitals near you.]
In the next week or so, more Californians could hear that many hospitals are simply full. Patients who are unable to avoid going to the hospital will encounter hourslong waits in hallways.read more
Why It’s So Hard to Keep California’s Hospitals Staffed
