Predicting a “significant increase” in critical coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, San Francisco officials said Thursday they will transfer non-COVID-19 patients to a new inpatient facility at the Presidio if necessary. clean hospital beds for virus patients.
The temporary medical center will be installed in a pair of warehouses behind the Palace of Fine Arts on Gorgas Avenue, and will treat up to 93 patients who are not infected with the coronavirus, county officials said.
The announcement comes as San Francisco is seeing a significant increase in people hospitalized with COVID-19: The number hit 109 on Thursday, up from 26 six weeks ago, Dr. Grant Colfax, director of public health for the city. Of those currently hospitalized with the coronavirus, a quarter, about 27 patients, are in intensive care, he said.
Latinos, who make up 15% of the city’s population, account for half of their coronavirus cases, according to the data. Public health experts say overcrowding and the fact that many Latinos work in essential jobs that make it difficult to practice social distancing are the main reasons for the disparity.
The “La Familia Unida Contra COVID-19” non-profit campaign (Familias Unidas contra COVID-19) will include culturally sensitive messages about the coronavirus and resource programs focused on food, housing, finance and mental health services, the Breed’s office.
Tatiana Sanchez is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez
