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Gavin Newsom has announced that 56% of Californians, which is 25.5 million people, could be infected with the coronavirus over the next eight weeks.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, Governor Newsom wrote, “I write to respectfully request you immediately deploy the USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to be stationed at the port of Los Angeles through September 1, 2020”.
He continued to explain that in the last 24 hours California has 126 new COVID-19 cases, which is a 21 percent increase. Furthermore, in some areas of California, every four days the case rate is doubling. So far, there have been 1,008 cases in California, including 463 in the Bay Area.
The state wants to control the spread of this disease and Governor Newsom believes a hospital ship will be able to help not only the spread of COVID-19, but also also to let hospitals focus on everyday cases such as heart attacks and car accidents. President Donald Trump has yet to respond to Governor Newsoms letter.
As a precaution, it is imperative Californians continue to “shelter in place” and follow the steps below to keep your family and yourself healthy:
- Take everyday preventive actions to stay healthy.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Governor Newsoms full letter to President Donald Trump is linked below.
https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.18.20-Letter-USNS-Mercy-Hospital-Ship.pdf