California Governor Gavin Newson said Tuesday that the state has activated the “mass fatality” program after 142 Californians died in one single day from Covid-19.
Newson ordered 5,000 additional body bags and at least 60 morgue trucks as he tries to cope with the “historically high” numbers.
The fatality average rate was at 163 per day this week compared to 41 a month ago.
The new purchases will be distributed to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Inyo counties. In addition, the response coordination among coroners and morgues will be improved through the “coroner mutual aid program,” the governor said.
“This is a deadly disease, and we need to be mindful of where we are. We are not at the finish line yet.”
The situation is as complicated when it comes to hospitalizations that grew disturbing in the course of the last two weeks by a rate of around 70%.
The ICU capacity is currently at 5.7% statewide. Some Southern regions have an ICU capacity that barely reaches 2%.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Newson stressed. “But we are still in the tunnel, going through the most challenging and difficult surge we’ve experienced since the beginning of this pandemic.”
