Newsom: State Working To Expand Hospital Bed Capacity, Housing For Homeless

Updated 7 p.m.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave an update Saturday evening on the state’s effort to reign in the spread of COVID-19, just days after issuing a stay-at-home order.

The state has been working to expand its hospital bed capacity as the number of positive cases rise. Newsom says the state currently has about 78,000 hospital beds, with a “surge capacity” of 10,000 additional beds. Newsom says he wants to add 10,000 more beds in the coming days and weeks.

The state has activated Seton Medical Center in Daly City, which could add over 300 beds. It is also working on leasing the recently closed St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles, which could add nearly 500 hospital rooms. 

Newsom is also negotiating with hundreds of hotels to lease rooms for unsheltered people. The state has secured over 2,400 hotel rooms, including about 1,900 in San Diego County. Newsom says the hotels are in seven counties.

Newsom says the state’s goal is to lease 51,000 hotel rooms for unsheltered people.

Meanwhile, unemployment claims continue to spike. On Friday, Newsom said, the state received 135,000 claims; yesterday, it received 114,000 claims. That’s up from an average of 2,000 claims a day.

Watch below beginning at 2:51.