Published
4 years agoon
Fresno County’s equipment needs to combat the coronavirus hinge on how well residents help flatten the curve, a county public health official says.
The Fresno County Health Department announced the death of a third county resident Tuesday afternoon. No details about the deceased were released.
The county also reported a rise of 22 positive tests, bringing the total to 146. The breakdown of the positive cases is:
Many of the Fresno area ventilators are already in use because of critically ill patients not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re asking all of our hospitals to do a very close inventory, and then to stay in close communication with us as we work with the state to plan out and to model our response,” Vohra said. “We have approximately 100 to 150 ventilators in the county region. And those really do change, day to day, in terms of how many are available for patient use.”
Vohra also voiced concerns Monday about what could happen if the curve doesn’t flatten fast enough.
He believes the county could ultimately need “several hundred more beds and ventilators, which is a source of consternation.”
Added Vohra, “Because if we do get a surge … as we’re seeing in some communities in the U.S., we’re going to be very challenged in providing the top-level care for these critically ill patients.”
California has been hunting for ventilators to boost its own supply for weeks. Officials requested 10,000 ventilators from the national stockpile, though it has received none. Los Angeles got 170 ventilators from the stockpile, though many were broken. The state has roughly 4,200 ventilators in addition to the hospitals’ tally. California expects to hit its peak of cases in mid-May.
CA’s 500 ventilators will begin to ship out today:
100->NY
100->NJ
100->IL
50->MD
50->DC
50->DE
50->NVCommitted to the health of every Californian. Practicing our duty as Americans to take care of one another. I know other states would do the same. pic.twitter.com/5y5hquISew
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 7, 2020
Related Story: Gov. Newsom Loans 500 Ventilators to National Stockpile
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)Ambulances, Hospitals for Real Medical Emergencies Only, Fresno Officials Say
COVID-19 Has Dramatically Lowered the Life Expectancy of Californians
Behind on Your Mortgage Payment? The State Can Help
Get COVID Tested and Treated in Same Fresno Visit
Fresno County Health Warns of Rising Flu and COVID Cases
Two Years into the Pandemic, Fresno Renters and Landlords Await Promised Aid