Amid criticism for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump continued to show his patriotism and support for our first responders and service personnel as he traveled to Norfolk, VA today for the send-off of USNS Comfort to New York for medical support during the health crisis.
The Comfort was set to leave in three weeks but, due to the overwhelming need as the outbreak surges in New York City, the navy medical ship was readied for duty in just 4 days. It is expected to arrive within the day and will begin treating patients on Tuesday.
The ship will serve as ‘critical surge capacity for New York’, for non-Covid-19 patients requiring critical care, urgent care and is ‘stocked to the brim’ with medical supplies and capability, according to Trump.
The ship is equipped with 12 operating rooms, 1000 hospital beds, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, radiology department, CAT scan, 2 oxygen generation plants and a heliport for transfer of patients.
Similar efforts are underway in California, where the USNS Mercy arrived on Friday in order to serve the needs of the state along the coast of Los Angeles.
The ship is staffed by the finest doctors, nurses, technicians…no one performs better under pressure,
the President said of the armed services personnel on board.
President Trump reiterated the CDC guidelines that individuals in the country, and particularly those areas hardest hit by the outbreak, to self-quarantine for 14 days. He stated that he is considering a full quarantine for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, excluding truck drivers and others transiting through the state for commercial purposes. He is expected to make an announcement on his decision very shortly.
