A U.S. Navy ship arrived in the Port of Los Angeles to serve as a hospital to help the overwhelmed medical care system during the coronavirus pandemic.
The USNS Mercy, which was stationed in San Diego, arrived at the port on Friday morning. The ship will handle non-coronavirus related ailments and patients to free up land hospitals so they can adequately treat people infected with the virus. The 800-person staff on the ship will be able to conduct general surgeries and will be able to handle critical care.
The floating hospital has more than ten general purpose operating suites, a blood bank capacity of 5,000 units, 15 patients wards, and they have 80 intensive care beds, according to NBC4 LA.
Today #USNSMercy arrived @PortofLA to serve as a referral hospital for patients not infected with #COVID19 – handling overflow of acute trauma cases & other urgent needs allowing shore-based hospitals to focus medical care resources on the treatment of #coronavirus patients. pic.twitter.com/14WkftEEZp
— Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly (@SECNAV) March 27, 2020
“This global crisis demands whole of government response, and we are ready to support,” Navy Capt. John Rotruck said, Mercy’s military treatment facility commanding officer. “Mercy brings a team of medical professionals, medical equipment and supplies, all of which will act, in essence, as a ‘relief valve’ for local civilian hospitals in Los Angeles so that local health professionals can better focus on COVID-19 cases.
“We will use our agility and responsiveness as an afloat medical treatment facility to do what the country asks, and bring relief where we are needed most,” he added.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked the Navy “for helping increase our hospital capacity” on social media.
Another Navy ship, the USNS Comfort, will be leaving Virginia this weekend to serve as a hospital in New York City.
