WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States Navy is prepping to deploy the USNS Comfort to New York City and the USNS Mercy to Los Angeles, where they will serve as emergency hospital ships.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says In order to take some of the burden off the area hospitals, the USNS Comfort will set sail in 14 days for New York City to help relieve the burden on area hospitals.
Navy Capt. (Dr.) John R. Rotruck, commanding officer on the USNS Mercy, said "We are not treating COVID-19 patients, and we are taking proactive measures to ensure anyone coming aboard is properly screened," in a telephone press conference at the Pentagon.The Navy’s Hospital ships are uniquely equipped, for disaster relief and humanitarian efforts, and those sailors serving aboard the ships are highly skilled and trained, he added
Once deployed, the ships will remain and provide non-Covid-related health care as an auxiliary hospital site.