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A California nursing home where dozens have tested positive for the novel coronavirus was forced to evacuate Wednesday after a majority of its staff failed to show up to work for the second consecutive day, according to public health officials.

People decked out in masks, gloves and protective gowns could be seen wheeling residents of the Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riverside, California, one by one on stretchers to waiting ambulances that would take them to other care facilities in the area.

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At the time of the evacuation, the centre was looking after more than 80 patients, 34 of whom have tested positive for coronavirus, Riverside County Public Health Officer Cameron Kaiser said at a news conference. Five employees have also contracted the virus, Kaiser said.

“We have a large vulnerable population at any of our long-term care facilities and we want to make sure those people are taken care of,” he said.