Coronavirus cases in Washington State and California appear to show that the disease has begun to spread in those communities, at least, according to an opinion piece on The New York Times website.
Federal, state and local governments, public health agencies, healthcare systems and industry should be preparing more actively for a widespread outbreak.
Healthcare systems need to set up testing centers in clinics or in hospital locations well removed from crowded emergency departments and waiting rooms.
Manufacturers need to expand the production of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, and they need to receive assurances from the federal government that they will be compensated, even if healthcare institutions don’t end up needing the equipment, the article said.
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