Billionaire Boys Club Member Forum (BBCMF)

[mick]

California hospitals are preparing for a surge of patients, with state officials projecting the state will need an additional 50,000 hospital beds. Last week, Newsom announced the state had leased Seton Medical Center in Daly City, a hospital that was slated to close after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. On Wednesday, Newsom said the 357-bed facility is operational.



“A significant milestone,” he said.



The governor's office also announced it is emptying the state's special fund for “economic uncertainties" and using the $1.3 billion to buy protective equipment for health care workers and medical supplies and to help hospitals increase their capacity.



When the crisis began, California had a stockpile of 21 million masks for health care workers but was down to 2.5 million on Monday. The state has now acquired 100 million masks and is looking for more, Newsom said. The state also has authorized the procurement of 1 billion gloves.



The state has conducted 66,800 virus tests so far, Newsom said. That's nearly 40,000 more tests than he had previously been announced. The quick increase comes because more labs are now reporting their testing numbers, he said.



Tens of thousands of people tested are still awaiting results, Newsom said.