Governors raise alarm as coronavirus taxes health systems

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — U.S. governors told the president Thursday that their states are in dire need of federal help as they expand measures to contain the new coronavirus, with Louisiana's governor saying his state's health system could be overwhelmed in a week.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said a surge in new cases filling hospital beds could push past the state's capacity to deliver health care in seven to 10 days as New Orleans becomes one of the nation's virus hot spots.

In a conference call with other governors, Edwards warned President Donald Trump of the “worst-case scenario” modeling. But he also told reporters that Louisiana was on track for that “sobering” reality if the state's residents don't actively work to decrease contact with others — staying home more and distancing themselves from people.

Louisiana had nearly 400 positive tests for COVID-19 Thursday, up from 280 a day earlier, Edwards said. Ten people have died.

"Our trajectory is basically the same as what they had in Italy. And if there’s anything I said today that ought to get people’s attention, it is that," the Democratic governor said. “If we are not going to look like Italy in 10 days or two weeks, it will only be because of these mitigation measures.”

In their teleconference with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, governors pressed for more supplies — masks and other protective equipment for medical professionals, test kits and life-saving supplies such as ventilators.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she wanted better coordination between the federal government and the states regarding the supply chain for essential medical equipment.

“Where is it, who is making it and where is it getting deployed?” said Grisham’s spokesman, Tripp Stelnicki. “There really needs to be more clear...