Homeless
(Photo : Reuters)

Governor Gavin Newsom said that more than 60,000 homeless individuals in California could get infected by COVID-19 in the coming weeks and that it would overwhelm the state's healthcare system and hospitals.

Homeless individuals are among one of the groups who are most vulnerable amid COVID-19 pandemic. They are prone to individuals who are carrying COVID-19 symptoms and there is also a big chance that they could get the virus easily due to their health status.

Governor Newsom predicted that if there will be an increase of COVID-19 patients of about 20 percent in the state's total population, it could overwhelm their healthcare services like hospitalization. There will be a need to add hospital beds and including medical staff if this happens.

California is the most populous state in the country and has also been hit the hardest in the country by COVID-19. There are 598 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state as of Wednesday and has a death toll of 17. An increase of 21 percent of COVID-19 patients was recorded compared to the confirmed cases on Tuesday.

This is very alarming most especially if the prediction of Gov. Newsom comes true. Aside from the most populous nation in the country, homeless individuals in California are estimated to be around more than 100,000. They are composed of individuals and some are in groups or families.

The most alarming is among these groups are those who are in their old age and are very susceptible to be infected by the virus.

Gov. Newsom said that if 56 percent of homeless in California gets infected, there would be around more than 60,000 individuals who will be hospitalized.

For this reason, Gov. Newsom decided to release an executive order authorizing the distribution of $100 million to cities and counties in California and has acquired 1,300 trailers to be used as temporary shelters for the homeless according to a recently published article.

The move of the state governor is expected to help flatten the curve.He also released another executive order that mandates the release of $50 million to convert motels and hotels as isolation places once homeless individuals are confirmed positive for COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, Gov. Newsom also said that he had already spoken to Trump's administration on which he requested one of the U.S. Navy medical ships to be placed on the coast in California to house potential carriers of the virus and to set up field hospitals in the state.

The largest city in the state, Los Angeles, is now making efforts also to identify among the homeless the most vulnerable and this include the elderly and those who have existing medical conditions.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that up to 6,000 homeless individuals who are vulnerable for COVID-19 will be placed in the city's recreational centers where they will be provided with beds.

This is not the first time that homeless individuals were given attention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. San Francisco, a county in Bay Area, is among one of the 6 counties that released stringent guidelines to control the spread of the virus. Homeless were also told by the county mayor to look for shelters while the country is still in a global pandemic.