Several Field Hospitals Going Up In Delaware Valley To Help Deal With COVID-19 Outbreak

Matt Petrillo reports.

PHILADELPHIA, NATASHA BROWN,FOR CBS-3 "EYEWITNESS NEWS".NATASHA, THANK YOU.OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THEREGION ARE PREPARING HOSPITALSFOR PROJECT SURGE IN PATIENTWAS COVID-19.THOSE PREPS INCLUDE SETTING UPFEMA MEDICAL STATION AS CROSSTHE DELAWARE VALLEY INCLUDINGA FIELD HOSPITAL AT TEMPLEUNIVERSITY'S LIACOURAS CENTER."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO'S LIVE IN THETEMPLE CAMPUS IN NORTHPHILADELPHIA TO EXPLAIN, MATT.REPORTER: YES ALL WEEKENDLONG CREWS HAVE BEEN BUSYSETTING UP FIELD MEDICALCENTERS AT LIACOURAS CENTER.LOOK AT VIDEO WE HAVE INSIDE,WE WERE GIVEN A TOUR.THERE IS MORE THAN 250 BEDSAVAILABLE HERE FORNON-COVID-19 PATIENTS.NOW THE SPACE WILL ONLY BEUSED IF HOSPITALS BECOME FULL,AND RENTING IT WILL REQUIRE ABIG NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS BUTOFFICIALS, PREFERRED TO NEVERHAVE TO USE IT.WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THISSURGE CAPABILITY IS SOMETHINGTHAT WILL ESSENTIALLY JUST SITHERE AND WE WILL PACK IT UP ATTHE EVEN ON HAVE THIS THINGAND WE WILL NEVER HIT THATSURGE.FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WE NEEDEVERYBODY'S HELP.WE NEED FOLKS TO STAY AT HOMEIF THEY CAN.TO HELP US FLATTEN THE CURVE.OF COURSE, THIS SITE WILL BESTAFFED WITH DEDICATED MEDICALPROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH CAREPROVIDERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THATOPTION, OR WHO AREVOLUNTEERING FOR MEDICALRESERVE CORE, AND IF YOU ARESOMEBODY WHO HAS THOSE SKILLS,THEN PLEASE, PLEASE, GET TOOUR COVID-19 PAGE, THROUGH OURWEBSITE.REPORTER: OVER THISDELAWARE COUNTY THE GLEN MILLSSCHOOL IS BEING CONVERTED INTO A MEDICAL CENTER ALSO FORNON-CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS,PLANS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY, TOCONVERT THE ATLANTIC CITYCONVENTION CENTER INTO A FIELDOPERATIONS, AS WELL.NOW RIGHT NOW THERE IS NODATE, TO OPEN THIS YET.THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NONEED FOR THAT, BUT WE AREASKING OFFICIALS ABOUT ITSCAPACITY AND IT'S MERGECYROOMS.WE HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UPON "EYEWITNESS NEWS" AT 5:00.