California hospitals see influx of COVID patients

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM: "The positivity rate has begun to increase."

A surge in new coronavirus infections in California has put hospitals across the state under increasing strain, as emergency rooms receive an influx of new patients with COVID-19.

And on the day the U.S. saw its largest one-day increase of new cases since the pandemic began, Dr. Angelique Campen of the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank said her hospital is feeling the pressure.

"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."

"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."

"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."

Campen says the wave of new cases has started to take its toll on staff at the hospital, and has added to frustrations over Californians who aren't taking necessary precautions.

"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, reminding people of what to do to stay safe and being concerned for our own health."

"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 meant to protect yourself, it's meant to protect people around you."

The spike in cases has prompted California to put 11 counties, representing about half of the state's population, on a watch list of places that might need roll back or halt their phases of reopening.