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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    ‘Health Corps’: Gov. Newsom wanted retired doctors and nurses to help treat COVID patients. What happened?

    During the early days of the pandemic in March, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that was supposed to add tens of thousands of workers to the state’s health care system. More than 90,000 people signed up.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Dec 8, 2020 • 8m Listen

    During the early days of the pandemic in March, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that was supposed to add tens of thousands of workers to the state’s health care system. More than 90,000 people signed up.

    Now nine months later, the pandemic is worse than it’s ever been. Hospitals are on the brink of disaster. When they say they’re running out of capacity, they mean they’re running out of staff.

    Now seems to be the perfect time to deploy Newsom’s “Health Corps.” But hardly any of the 90,000 who signed up are available to help. Only a few hundred doctors and nurses are available. So what happened?

    Sacramento Bee: Newsom asked California doctors and nurses to join his Health Corps. Why the plan flopped

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Amid resistance to California COVID shutdowns, how to rebuild trust between residents and officials
    1. 0:00California doctor: Health officials should better trust the public and acknowledge what they’re feeling
    2. 9:11‘Health Corps’: Gov. Newsom wanted retired doctors and nurses to help treat COVID patients. What happened?You’re reading this
    3. 18:13Trading California's future water availability on Wall Street
    4. 27:13‘76 Days’ documentary goes inside Wuhan’s COVID lockdown from February to April
    5. 41:53Hollywood is upset with WarnerMedia’s move to release 2021 films online and in theaters at the same time
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jason Pohl

      investigative reporter at The Sacramento Bee

      NewsHealth & WellnessCalifornia

    The full episode

    2 of 5
    Amid resistance to California COVID shutdowns, how to rebuild trust between residents and officials
    1. 0:00California doctor: Health officials should better trust the public and acknowledge what they’re feeling
    2. 9:11‘Health Corps’: Gov. Newsom wanted retired doctors and nurses to help treat COVID patients. What happened?You’re reading this
    3. 18:13Trading California's future water availability on Wall Street
    4. 27:13‘76 Days’ documentary goes inside Wuhan’s COVID lockdown from February to April
    5. 41:53Hollywood is upset with WarnerMedia’s move to release 2021 films online and in theaters at the same time
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand