Coronavirus: USNS Comfort Military Hospital Ship Heads to New York

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In the United States, New York State remains the hardest hit by the Covid-19 epidemic. The authorities, which extended the restraint measures for three weeks, continue to call for more aid, including medical equipment. A military hospital ship is expected to arrive in Manhattan on Monday March 30 to relieve overwhelmed hospitals.

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with our correspondent in New York, Loubna Anaki

Leaving Saturday from Virginia, the USNS Comfort should arrive in New York during the day. On board, 1200 doctors, nurses, technicians for a capacity of 1000 beds. The US Navy hospital ship also has 12 operating theaters and laboratories.

Its mission will be to treat patients who do not suffer from coronavirus. First to relieve New York hospitals, but also to prevent healthy patients from being infected during their hospital visit.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the much awaited arrival of the USNS Comfort will be invaluable in helping to stop the spread of the virus. The state currently has 59,500 cases of coronavirus. 965 people died. These are the highest figures in the country.

NY wasn't helped by the federal legislation.

We received less than other states despite having the most COVID-19 cases.

I spoke to Senators Schumer, Gillibrand & Speaker Pelosi & they have committed to right this wrong.

I am committed to working with them.

The USNS Comfort is the 2nd such ship to be dispatched as a backup. A 1st boat arrived in Los Angeles on the west coast. These two ships are used mainly to intervene in countries affected by natural disasters. They were also deployed after September 11 and Hurricane Katrina.

► Read also : The state of the world facing the pandemic on Sunday March 29

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