America’s big cities prepare to become the next NYC: Chicago, Detroit and LA brace themselves for the coming onslaught as coronavirus cases in the US pass 142,600
The number of US COVID-19 cases surpassed 142,600 and 2,509 deaths Sunday
LA, Chicago and Detroit were expected to the the next coronavirus hot spots
Big cities are preparing for overflow and neighboring counties have been setting up field hospitals to help cope with the increased demand for medical care
But hospitals are preparing letters for loved ones of patients as they break the news only those with a better chance of survival will be saved
‘I’m worried that New York might not be the worst-case scenario’ MIT professor of operations management said
Other states have older and less-healthy populations, as well as fewer hospital beds available
‘We had time to prepare for this. We saw what happens to other places. This bought us time, but we didn’t use the time’ – ex Baltimore health commissioner
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By LEAH SIMPSON
DAILYMAIL.COM
30 March 2020
Major US cities are preparing for an onslaught of coronavirus cases after experts predicted that several would follow in the footsteps of New York City where 776 people had died as of Sunday.
The number of US COVID-19 cases surpassed 142,600 Sunday night, leaving former epicenters Italy and China trailing by tens of thousands.
The US accounted for 2,509 of the 34,000 deaths globally with Illinois’ Cook County reaching 40 fatalities, Michigan’s Wayne County hitting 56 and Los Angeles County 37, medical professionals were getting ready to deal with numbers that outsize hospital capacities.
LA County health officials predict that in just two weeks hospitals could run out of space. Navy hospital ship Mercy has provided 1,000 extra beds for non-coronavirus patients. But the 45,000 homeless people in LA could overwhelm the system.
As California adheres to shelter-in-place orders, Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed concern for the 60,000 homeless people expected to get coronavirus in the state. They need to be isolated in trailers and 4,000 hotel rooms to help stop the spread.
A total of 42 recreation centers had also been reserved for displaced individuals.
Much like New York Gov. Cuomo’s suggestion for the Big Apple – where the majority of New York State’s nearly 60,000 cases are – big cities may have to hospitalize patients in facilities outside of the major hubs.
But experts fear it’s too late.
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