With over 1,400 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city so far, San Diego is prepping for a surge in coronavirus patients. To accommodate the expected surge, San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer recently announced a directive to offer up all available city property to fight the outbreak.
"It's about having an all hands on deck approach to make our city facilities available to our hospitals should we need them, with one goal: how are we planning for a surge that we may or may not have?" said Mayor Faulconer. "We are doing everything we can from a city standpoint to support our hospitals."
This week, the Mayor also called for local medical residents, nursing students, and former medical workers to help treat coronavirus patients and said the city has also been working to increase its supply of protective equipment, even when questioned if it's been involved in the competitive bidding wars straining distribution.
"Like a lot of cities and a lot of states, the answer is yes. We have been working, and so far pretty successfully, on securing whether it's extra masks, some of which arrived just today, PPE equipment, has been in short supply but thus far we are holding out with our hospitals," he said, while also explaining that San Diego is tracking ventilators on a daily basis. "Our capacity is holding right now.
Faulconer issued a 'Stay At Home Order' on March 20, making San Diego the first large city in California to do so. The Mayor said he's happy about how his residents have been practicing social distancing in the citywide effort to flatten the curve.
"I have been really impressed by San Diegans. It is tough not to go out and enjoy the natural beauty on our beaches," he admitted. "But San Diegans have been stepping it up. They are taking it seriously."
"We set a very firm, clear example of what we're expecting San Diegans to do, and it's been remarkable. I'm proud of how everyone is reacting," the mayor added.
