icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
3 Dec, 2020 09:29

‘Close to devastating tipping point’: LA issues stay-at-home order amid fears of ICU bed shortage due to Covid-19

‘Close to devastating tipping point’: LA issues stay-at-home order amid fears of ICU bed shortage due to Covid-19

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered people to stay at home and imposed strict travel restrictions across the city in an effort to curb the rise in Covid-19 infections.

LA residents have been told to “remain in their homes.” All gatherings of people from more than one household have also been banned.

People are still allowed to participate in “outdoor faith-based services” and in protests outside if they wear masks and follow social distancing rules.

Essential services, like grocery stores, gas stations and banks, are allowed to operate on the condition that they follow strict health safety protocols.

“Our city is now close to a devastating tipping point, beyond which the number of hospitalized patients would start to overwhelm our hospital system, in turn risking needless suffering and death,” Garcetti’s order read, explaining that the new restrictions were aimed at avoiding “that dreaded scenario.”

The city’s health officials recorded almost 6,000 new Covid-19 cases and 40 deaths on Wednesday. More than 2,400 people were in hospital. 

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Health Services Director Christina Ghaly told NBC Los Angeles there will be a shortage of ICU beds “over the next four weeks,” unless the spread of the coronavirus decreases.

Also on rt.com ‘Ridiculous to ask me that question’: US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin grilled over fate of billions in Covid-19 relief funds (VIDEO)

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!

Podcasts
0:00
28:20
0:00
27:33