WASHINGTON — FEMA continues to lead the Whole-of-America response in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Today, the hospital ship USNS Mercy arrived in Los Angeles to relieve strains on local hospital systems and is expected to be operational in a week. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also in California assessing eight state-selected facilities to develop large-scale facilities to expand existing hospital capacity by 50,000 beds.
Under the direction of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, FEMA, HHS and our federal partners are working with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a whole of government response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the public.
To learn more about the federal government COVID-19 response, visit https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus
USNS Mercy Arrives in LA
LOS ANGELES — Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy arrives in Los Angeles on March 27. Mercy deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, allowing those medical teams to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez
Little Rock District teams evaluate sites for use as alternate-care-facilities
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District personnel perform a site inspection. Their efforts are part of a larger FEMA mission assignment for USACE to convert large spaces into alternate care sites in response to COVID-19.
Medical Supplies Received in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — Supplies arrive at a New Orleans warehouse serving as a receiving location for supplies being shipped into Orleans Parish. Medical supplies and personal protection equipment that will be distributed from here to all drive-thru Community Based Testing Sites in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. FEMA is coordinating the shipping of medical supplies including nitrile gloves, test kits, Tyvek suits, earloops surgical masks, plastic aprons (not surgical aprons) and N-95 masks.
FEMA Photo/Dwayne Barnes Sr.
California Guard medical unit deep in COVID-19 fight
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Army National Guard Pfc. Michael Daggi of the California National Guard Medical Detachment instructs California Emergency Medical Service Authority (EMSA) staff members on properly applying personal protective equipment March 27 at a San Mateo County, California, COVID-19 treatment facility. Cal Guard’s medical teams are actively assisting local and state agencies contain the coronavirus epidemic. This treatment facility houses patients who tested positive for COVID-19.
Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza
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