As millions of Californians struggle under the crushing lockdown imposed by Governor Gavin Newsom, it appears the worst of this pandemic could have been avoided. The state is currently in short supply of equipment to fight the coronavirus outbreak, including hospital beds, respirators and ventilators.
However, back in 2006, California had all those things and more: numerous mobile hospitals the size of football fields with up to 200 beds, 50 million N95 respirators, 2,400 portable ventilators, ICU units and even surgical suites with X-ray equipment.
They were all part of an emergency preparation system put in place by then Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as a response to those suffering along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.
Schwarzenegger was concerned about another outbreak of the Asian bird flu. He announced the state would invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the latest medical technology, which would be ready to deploy if a disaster ever struck.
The program also involved a “Health Surge Capacity Initiative,” which was aimed at stockpiling medicine and medical gear for use during an outbreak of infectious diseases. The state was ready to go, but after the recession hit in 2008, far-left Democrat Governor Jerry Brown was elected and the entire program was dismantled.
read more here: https://www.oann.com/calif-had-emergency-pandemic-supplies-available-but-dismantled-program-in-2011/
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