There are no intensive care beds available in the densely populated US state of Southern California or its agricultural San Joaquin Valley, together home to nearly 30 million people, amid a deadly surge of Covid-19, Governor Gavin Newsom has said.

Newsom told a remote news conference he had requested help from nurses, doctors and medical technicians in the US military, and is hoping that 200 people can be deployed. The state has also sent nearly 700 additional medical staff to beleaguered hospitals and opened up clinics in unused state buildings, a closed sports arena and other locations.

According to a Reuters report, California Secretary of Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly said many hospitals in the state may also soon run out of room for patients who need to be admitted but do not require intensive care.