“All the hospitals are taxed with a large flu season and other bugs,” said Dr. Mark Jarrett, the chief quality officer for Northwell Health, which operates 23 hospitals across Long Island and elsewhere in New York. About 400 patients are coming to its emergency rooms each day with flulike symptoms. “Everybody is at maximum capacity,” Dr. Jarrett said. But Dr. Redfield also said that officials were beginning to actively discuss what other steps would have to be taken in the event that the new coronavirus spread in this country. Still, across the country, hospitals are taking steps to prepare for the potential threat.

Source: New York Times February 07, 2020 23:51 UTC