US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort to support New York in its fight against COVID-19

Let’s face it, the novel COVID-19 is scary and the headlines surrounding it are even more distressing. Yet, there’s some good news doling out glimmers of hope in the midst of these scary times. Read on to find out!

According to reports, the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort, which President Trump said would help hospitals deal with rapidly rising coronavirus cases, is expected to soon dock in New York.

Why is there a need for a ship?

New York City is the center of the COVID-19 flare-up in the US. The city has reported 914 deaths, which represents more than a quarter of the total deaths in the country.

Therefore, the hospitals in the city are in dire need of more beds. And, the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort could help ease the strain.

The History of USNS Comfort

The USNS Comfort ship has a history of helping with disasters in New York, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean. After the September 11^th attacks in 2001, the ship sailed to New York harbor and treated more than 500 firefighters and other first responders who were wounded during the relief operations after the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed.

The ship also docked in New Orleans to treat the victims of Hurricane Katrina and off Haiti’s coast to treat the victims of the devastating earthquake in 2010. 

Inside the US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort

According to the Navy, the ship contains 12 fully equipped operating rooms, two oxygen-producing plants, 1000 hospital beds, a blood bank, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, and a CAT scan.

What will the ship be used for?

The US Navy Hospital Ship Comfort will not be treating coronavirus patients. Instead, in an attempt to ease the burden on hospitals, the ship will be used to relocate patients undergoing treatment that is not COVID-related. This will enable the local hospitals to focus their resources and intensive care units on COVID-19 patients.

The ship could start taking the patients as early as Tuesday, and all the patients will be screened before they board the ship.

Why will the ship not be taking coronavirus patients onboard?

The hospital ship will not be suitable for attempting to treat a highly infectious illness that requires patients to be kept away from each other and from healthcare providers, who need to wear protective gear and face masks at all times so that they do not end up catching the virus themselves.

– Disclaimer –

This blog is for informational & educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute any professional medical advice or consultation. For any health related concerns, please consult with your physician, or call 911.