PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, two U.S. Navy Hospital Ships are providing support to U.S. hospitals for the whole-of-America response for COVID-19.
The USNS Comfort arrived in New York Harbor March 30, 2020, while the USNS Mercy arrived in Los Angeles March 27. Both ships can provide approximately 1,000 beds for urgent care patients not infected with the virus, relieving pressure on local hospital systems. This allows shore based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases.
One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people.