Brett Barro and Simone Miller work quickly to resuscitate a rapidly deteriorating COVID-19 patient.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Brett Barro and Simone Miller work quickly to resuscitate a rapidly deteriorating COVID-19 patient.

Scott Kobner is the chief emergency room resident at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

A Los Angeles Fire Department crew gives a report to a physician.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

A Los Angeles Fire Department crew gives a report to a physician.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

More than 19,000 people have died of COVID-19 in LA County.

As cases in New York City surge, disaster tents are erected and await use outside of the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center emergency department in preparation for the worst.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

As cases in New York City surge, disaster tents are erected and await use outside of the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center emergency department in preparation for the worst.

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

At the peak of the winter surge, disaster tents are filled with COVID-19 patients

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

At the peak of the winter surge, disaster tents are filled with COVID-19 patients

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

Katie Ross and Dan Dworkis discuss the care of several patients in the emergency department's COVID-19 unit

Scott Kobner/Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

Katie Ross and Dan Dworkis discuss the care of several patients in the emergency department's COVID-19 unit