"We are tired": Los Angeles hospitals scramble to treat new surge in coronavirus patients

Record ID: 1559240

  • Title: "We are tired": Los Angeles hospitals scramble to treat new surge in coronavirus patients
  • Date: 26th June 2020
  • Summary: BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 25, 2020) (REUTERS) EMERGENCY ROOM WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES MEDICAL STAFF LOOKING AT SCREEN CLEANER IN FULL PPE GEAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "I was relieved that given the high numbers of positives, we weren't seeing very much of an increased hospitalization in ICU admission until today. I think we're seeing what we were concerned about happening now. Those people that have gotten sick are now getting very sick and coming to the hospital." VARIOUS OF CAMPEN ON WARD (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "So when it first started, most of the people we were hospitalizing and that were getting really sick were the elderly. That is not the case now. We are starting to see younger and middle-aged people from 21 to 49, seems to be the peak ages that we're seeing now." EMERGENCY SIGN AMBULANCE SAFETY SIGNS NURSES ON WARD (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "These are the people that were out during the demonstrations. They are also the people that have had to leave their homes and go back to work and it may have... because it's been so many months, been lured into a false sense of security to relax a little bit on their health precautions." CORRIDOR TO WARD MEDICAL STAFF ON WARD MAN AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "To see suddenly all the work that we had done is being taxed again is hard. Just like everyone else is tired of staying at home and having to wear a mask, we are tired as well of being at work, fighting the fight, reminding people of what to do to stay safe and being concerned for our own health." GIRL AT DESK STAFF TALKING GIRL AT DESK CLEANER IN PPE GEAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "I can't think of any disease process that would preclude you from wearing a mask. A mask is your way of doing your part in reducing the spread of this disease. It's not a filter, it's not meant to protect yourself, it's meant to protect people around you. It is relatively a spit capture. It's important that everyone wear their mask. Even if you know that you've tested negative, wearing your mask is simply a reminder for everyone else to wear their mask as well." VARIOUS OF CAMPEN HAVING HER TEMPERATURE TAKEN AND GIVEN A MASK (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN AT PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER, DR ANGELIQUE CAMPEN, SAYING: "As an ER doctor, I've taken care of hundreds of coronavirus patients and I remain negative. I get tested every two weeks and I remain negative. It just shows you the power of being safe. I've been in close quarters with many very sick people. Wearing a mask, keeping your hands clean and using those universal precautions, you can stay safe." EXTERIOR OF EMERGENCY ENTRANCE AMERICAN AND CALIFORNIA FLAGS SIGN READING (English) "Heroes Work Here" EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 10th July 2020 02:31
  • Keywords: Accident and Emergency Coronavirus cases doctor health patients
  • Location: BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES;
  • City: BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES;
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA001CK0B70N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: After a record number of daily cases of coronavirus were reported in California, emergency rooms across the state are being swamped with new patients.
    Dr. Angelique Campen from Providence St Joseph Medical Center in Burbank in greater Los Angeles has seen first hand the numbers that have swelled over the past two days.
    "I think we're seeing what we were concerned about happening now. Those people that have gotten sick are now getting very sick and coming to the hospital," Dr. Campen told Reuters.
    She added "When it first started, most of the people we were hospitalizing and that were getting really sick were the elderly. That is not the case now. We are starting to see younger and middle-aged people from 21 to 49, seems to be the peak ages that we're seeing now."
    When asked about the contributing factors, Dr Campen replied "These are the people that were out during the demonstrations. They are also the people that have had to leave their homes and go back to work. Because it's been so many months, (they've) been lured into a false sense of security to relax a little bit on their health precautions."
    The wave of cases has taken its toll on staff at the hospital.
    "To see suddenly all the work that we had done is being taxed again is hard," Dr Campen said, adding "Just like everyone else is tired of staying at home and having to wear a mask, we are tired as well of being at work, fighting the fight, reminding people of what to do to stay safe and being concerned for our own health."
    Dr Campen is also frustrated by people who refuse to wear masks or believe it's bad for their health.
    "I can't think of any disease process that would preclude you from wearing a mask," she said.
    "As an ER doctor, I've taken care of hundreds of coronavirus patients and I remain negative. I get tested every two weeks and I remain negative. It just shows you the power of being safe. I've been in close quarters with many very sick people. Wearing a mask, keeping your hands clean and using those universal precautions, you can stay safe."
    A total of 4,240 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday (June 25) in the state, using about 9% of total available beds, according to California governor Gavin Newsom.
    The spike in cases have prompted the state to put 11 counties, representing about half of California's population, on a watch list of places that might be required to roll back recent efforts to reopen their economies.
    (Production: Rollo Ross/Sandra Stojanovic)
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