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60,000 homeless could get virus, says California governor

Posted at 11:24 AM, Mar 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-19 12:24:02-04

As worries about the spread of the coronavirus confine millions of Californians to their homes, concern is growing about those who have no homes in which to shelter.

California has more than 150,000 homeless people, the most in the nation. And that population is considered disproportionately at risk from the virus because of lifestyle and because many have underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said 60,000 homeless people could become infected.

The governor announced he'll spend $150 million on efforts to prevent the virus from sweeping through that population.