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California Nurses Union Unhappy That Stay-at-Home Order Was Lifted

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While many may be happy about the state's lifting of the stay-at-home order Monday, the president of a California nurses union isn't one of them.

Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, called the decision to let some businesses reopen  “disappointing” and “premature.”

"This whole pandemic has been a nightmare for nurses because we still are short on the PPE that we need," Burger said. "We’re still short-staffed. We’re still coping with the onslaught of incoming critically ill patients."

Her organization condemned the state’s move, saying there is a human cost to lifting the stay-at-home order too soon.

Burger, who works as a nurse in Sonoma, says she worries people may let their guard down. She also worries that a new coronavirus variant will make the situation worse.

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Nurses, doctors and other health care workers have been especially hard hit during the pandemic. When the surge of coronavirus cases was at its worst after the holidays, exhaused staff described ambulances constantly lined up around the block, patients queued in pop-up tents, and halls overflowing with sick people. Staff members told KQED they felt "betrayed" by the public's indifference to taking preventive measures like wearing masks and social distancing.

California officials said Monday that they lifted the stay-at-home order based on improving projections for ICU availability around the state.

Polly Stryker and Jon Brooks

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