Gov. Gavin Newsom warns more than half of all Californians could become infected with coronavirus

In a letter to President Trump, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) gave a stark warning: Over an eight-week period, 25.5 million Californians — more than half of all residents — could become infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

As of Thursday evening, 958 Californians have tested positive for the virus, and 19 have died. In preparation for an influx of hospital patients, Newsom also asked Trump to deploy the USNS Mercy hospital ship to the port of Los Angeles through Sept. 1.

In a separate letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Newsom asked for $1 billion in federal funds to help the state purchase ventilators, deploy mobile hospitals, subsidize childcare, and support small businesses through zero-interest loans and cash assistance.

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"The economic disruption caused by this public health crisis will have immediate and devastating effects on our entire country, including too many families in California," Newsom wrote. "The magnitude of this crisis is extraordinary and federal-state-local government coordination will be more critical than ever before."