NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (WAVY) — Just one week after the USNS Comfort hospital ship arrived in New York Harbor, its mission has turned to treating COVID-19 patients.
The ship originally left Norfolk with the intent to treat non-COVID-19 patients, providing some relief for the city’s overburdened hospitals.
In the afternoon on April 6, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he had spoken with the president, who gave the go-ahead to treat COVID-19 patients on the ship.
“This means 1,000 additional beds staffed by federal personnel,” Cuomo said in a tweet. “This will provide much-needed relief to our over stressed hospital systems.”
The Comfort has more than 1,100 personnel on board, including Navy medical and support staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners.
RELATED:
- USNS Comfort treats first patients in New York
- GALLERY: USNS Comfort COVID-19 medical relief mission in NYC
- Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arrives in New York City
