(CNN) Los Angeles is sending medical street teams to help protect homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic that's killed tens of thousands nationwide, city officials said.

In the United States alone, the coronavirus outbreak has left more than 37,000 people dead and sickened nearly 710,000. California is one of the hardest-hit states, with about 30,000 cases of infection and more than 1,000 people killed.

Under the effort that starts Monday, deployed medical teams will focus on people living on the streets and provide them with rapid-results coronavirus tests, regular health and welfare screenings, counseling and transportation to shelters and hotels, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday.

Additional resources will be sent to the city's Skid Row, and will include nursing staff, mental health workers and case managers. They'll provide the homeless population there with face coverings and other necessary items while working to take them off the streets, the mayor said.

"We have to get more screening, testing, and treatment to Angelenos who are most vulnerable to this virus," Garcetti said. "We're putting experts and resources in places where they can make an immediate difference and help save lives."

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