The State of California has entered into an agreement with Verity Health System of California, Inc. that will allow it to use two vacant hospitals as facilities for COVID-19 patients.
The first facility is the St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles. As County News reported last month, the city and county of Los Angeles were eyeing St. Vincent for homeless housing.
“With everything turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic, I can’t think of a more timely, urgent purpose for St. Vincent Hospital in the 13th District,” said L.A. City Councilma Mitch O’Farrell, whose district is home to the old medical center (Los Angeles Times). “I commend [Gov. Gavin Newsom] for taking this action and in his handling of the crisis so far.”
The other shuttered building to be repurposed for patients is the Seton Medical Center in Daly City. San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa announced the state would take control of its 177 beds and use them for Coronavirus patient overflow.