Head of Army Corps of Engineers reveals ‘immense’ operation to build 341 field hospitals across America to battle coronavirus – and US Open Queens Stadium will be among them
Lt. General Todd Semonite spoke on Tuesday to share his plan for field hospitals across America
There are already eight sites being built as temporary hospitals and another five will start construction today
It is unclear if the eight now being built are in New York, or further afield but the Corps is planning nationally
By the time the operation is complete, he says there will be 341 field hospitals across the country
The Queens Stadium complex in New York, where the US Open is held, is among them
350 beds will go in its indoor training center and the Louis Armstrong Stadium will be used as a commissary to pump out meals for healthcare staff
The US coronavirus case total is now more than 164,000 and the death toll is more than 3,100
The peak is yet to hit anywhere in the country and experts say some states will be suffering until August
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By JENNIFER SMITH
DAILYMAIL.COM
31 March 2020
The head of the Army Corps of Engineers revealed his plan to build 341 coronavirus field hospitals across the US to battle the pandemic on Tuesday, and one will be the US Open Arena in New York City.
Lt. General Todd Semonite appeared on Good Morning America to reveal his plan and explain how the army goes about selecting appropriate sites.
There are already temporary hospitals being built in New York and Illinois, but contracts are expected to be signed on others throughout the day.
Among the facilities in New York is the Javits Center and Central Park in Manhattan. On Monday, Queens Stadium which hosts the US Open every year announced it was turning its various facilities into a hospital and commissary where meals will be prepared for the city’s healthcare workers.
The others are the Westchester Civic Center, SUNY Stony Brook and SUNY Westbury.
Construction is also underway at three sites in Illinois; McOrmick Place, an exposition center in Chicago, and two disused hospitals – Metro South Medical on Blue Island and Sherman Hospital in England, Illinois.
Lt. Gen. Semonite said on Monday that the Corps was prepared for the challenge and eager to get to work building the sites before the pandemic peak hits.
Lt. General Todd Semonite of the Army Corps of Engineers talks to @GStephanopoulos about the number of sites they will build out across the country and explains what it takes to turn a site into a medical facility. https://t.co/tuzjwvN268 pic.twitter.com/7hpoFXQUMq
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 31, 2020
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