California activates 'mass fatality' program to coordinate aid across agencies as COVID-19 cases and deaths soar

• California has activated its "mass fatality" program as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to soar, NPR reported.
• The program is meant to help ease the burden on local agencies as deaths rise.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom recently noted that the state had reported more than 160 coronavirus deaths a day on average over the past week.

California has activated its "mass fatality" program as novel coronavirus cases and deaths continue to soar, NPR reported.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the state had averaged more than 160 deaths a day over the past week, and he ordered 5,000 additional body bags to distribute to counties experiencing record deaths, KRON-TV reported.

The California Office of Emergency Services said the mass-fatality program was implemented when there were more deaths in a given time period than the local coroner or medical emergency personnel could handle. The program coordinates aid between several governmental agencies.

Mark Pazin, the state's OES chief, told KCRA the mass-fatality program was meant to ensure that local agencies weren't overwhelmed with the death toll.

"I know it sounds morbid, but it's got to be said, that we have the body bags, that we have the proper refrigeration units, that the capacity has not outstripped the local morgue or funeral home," Pazin said.

California, on Thursday, reported 52,281 new COVID-19 cases and 379 deaths.

The Los Angeles Times reported that in Southern California, which spans more than 56,000 square miles and has a population of nearly 24 million people, there is no intensive-care capacity left, meaning patients would most likely be placed in other locations within hospitals.

As of Wednesday, the Times also reported the hospitalizations had broken records for 18 days in a row. On Tuesday, 14,939 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state.