New York greets hospital ship with cheers; California cases soar

By Stephanie Kelly and Daniel Trotta

 

The USNS Comfort passes Manhattan as it enters New York Harbor during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, U.S., March 30, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Segar

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York welcomed the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship on Monday as a beacon of hope for the city's desperate fight against the coronavirus pandemic, while officials said the disease was gaining traction in California.

 

People gathered on the New York and New Jersey sides of the Hudson River to cheer the U.S Navy ship Comfort, a converted oil tanker adorned with giant red crosses, as it sailed past the Statue of Liberty accompanied by a flotilla of support ships and helicopters.

 

Some bystanders chanted, "Trump, Trump, Trump," as the huge vessel neared the Midtown Manhattan pier where it docked.

 

The Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients, including those who require surgery and critical care, the Navy said.

 

"It's a wartime atmosphere and we all have to pull together," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was among the dignitaries to greet the ship's arrival. He said preparations for the ship, including dredging, took eight days, much less than the two weeks initially expected.

 

A 1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship arrived in New York Harbor and docked on Manhattan's west side on Monday (March 30) after departing Norfolk, Virginia

 

Hospitals in the city have been overrun with patients suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. New York state accounts for almost half the country's more than 152,000 cases and more than 40% of its more than 2,800 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

 

The United States has the most confirmed cases in the world.(Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T)

 

In California, another hard-hit state, Governor Gavin Newsom said the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations had nearly doubled over the past four days and the number of ICU patients had tripled. By Monday, 1,421 California patients had been hospitalized, up from 746 four days ago, he said. 

 

To ease the pressure in New York, construction of a 68-bed field hospital began on Sunday in Central Park, and the white tents being set up evoked a wartime feel in an island of green typically used by New Yorkers to exercise, picnic and enjoy the first signs of spring.

 

The makeshift facility, provided by the Mount Sinai Health System and non-profit organization Samaritan's Purse, is expected to begin accepting patients on Tuesday but will not take walk-ins, and admissions and transfers will be managed by Mount Sinai, de Blasio said.

 

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, one of the most prominent public figures of the coronavirus crisis, told a news conference the state might have to step in to close playgrounds in the country's most populous city.

 

He said official efforts to reduce the numbers of people in those public spaces had not been successful.

 

Cuomo and de Blasio are among a growing chorus of officials who have voiced frustration at President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis and a shortage of ventilators and personal protective equipment needed to fight the virus in hospitals.

 

"I am not engaging the president in politics," Cuomo, a Democrat, said of Trump, a Republican. "My only goal is to engage the president in partnership."

 

De Blasio said the death toll in his city would rise if Washington did not provide more assistance soon. “Sunday is D-Day, we need help by Sunday," he told CNN. The mayor, also a Democrat, later thanked Trump for dispatching the Comfort.

 

CHILLING NUMBERS

U.S. health officials are urging Americans to follow stay-at-home orders and other measures to contain the spread of the virus, which originated in China and has infected about three-quarters of a million people around the world.

 

"If we do things together well - almost perfectly - we could get in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 fatalities," Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House's coronavirus task force, told NBC's "Today" show.

 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top U.S. health official, cited those figures on Sunday as a possible outcome, but Birx's assessment appeared to suggest the figures could be a floor rather than a ceiling.

 

The virus has spread from its original epicenters in Washington state, New York and California.

 

In a hopeful image that captured the spirit of a national mobilization against the coronavirus, a Navy hospital ship docked in New York on Monday as the city pleaded for more help to stanch the deadly outbreak at its U.S. epicenter.

 

Authorities in New Orleans were setting up a field hospital at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - the same site where thousands of Hurricane Katrina refugees gathered in 2005 - to handle the expected overflow of patients.

 

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a "stay-at-home" order as cases rose. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam also announced a stay-at-home order for his state, as did Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser in the nation's capital.

 

Congressional officials in Washington, D.C., announced the U.S. Capitol would be closed to the public through April. They had previously said it would be closed until the end of March.

 

At the Stateville Correctional Center, 12 prisoners were hospitalized and several required ventilators, while 77 more showing symptoms were being isolated at the facility, Illinois officials said.

 

A number of prominent Americans, including several members of Congress, have tested positive for COVID-19.

 

Renowned country and folk singer John Prine was in stable condition on Monday after being hospitalized with symptoms of the illness, his wife said on Twitter. Prine, a 73-year-old cancer survivor, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Trump initially played down the risk to Americans, drawing criticism from health officials and political rivals, including former Vice President Joe Biden, front-runner in the Democratic race to challenge Trump in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

"We allowed the seeds to be planted. And now there is nothing to do but wait for the bloom. A lot of these deaths are already percolating,” said Dana Miller, 61, of Belmont, Massachusetts, a retired U.S. government health policy official.

 

Trump on Sunday abandoned a hotly criticized plan to get the economy up and running by mid-April, extending his original 15-day nationwide stay-at-home order for another 30 days, a step that many Americans accepted with resignation.

 

“I’m sad to be locked inside, but I think it’s for the best,” said Mia Siracusa, 24, a data manager ordered to work out of her apartment in Brooklyn, whose live-in boyfriend is from Italy and whose mother is a New York City hospital nurse.

 

(Reporting by Maria Caspani in New York, Daniel Trotta in Milan, Barbara Goldberg and Stephanie Kelly in New York and Doina Chiacu and Lisa Lambert in Washington; Writing by Paul Simao and John Whitesides; Editing by Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-31

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

I think it's time some of the blatant fake news outlets have their broadcasting license revoked. In these stressful times there is no excuse for the likes of MSNBC's Maddow to say the hospital ship due to arrive at New York is "nonsense". As per the OP we can see Maddow is 100% wrong, and has probably (unnecessarily)caused panic and fear among her loyal viewers.

 

 

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I think it's time some of the blatant fake news outlets have their broadcasting license revoked. In these stressful times there is no excuse for the likes of MSNBC's Maddow to say the hospital ship due to arrive at New York is "nonsense". As per the OP we can see Maddow is 100% wrong, and has probably (unnecessarily)caused panic and fear among her loyal viewers.

 

 

What was the date of that transmission?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8167815/Help-Navy-hospital-ship-USNS-Comfort-docks-New-York-harbor.html

52 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

What was the date of that transmission?

I did the research for you.... (TET: 3m)      'Google' is your friend  ????
 

"USNS Comfort docks in NY 10 days after Rachel Maddow said it would take 'weeks' 
(Fox News headline)

https://www.foxnews.com/media/usns-comfort-ny-rachel-maddow

The US Navy Hospital Ship is "like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," mayor says.
(CNN Headline)

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-30-20-intl-hnk/h_2f7ca98871d68447e7e5c9da15680e88

 

Chomp, Chomp.... ????

 

 

 

 

 

That video is very impressive. We are on a roll. Great job, Navy!!!!!!!

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I think it's time some of the blatant fake news outlets have their broadcasting license revoked. In these stressful times there is no excuse for the likes of MSNBC's Maddow to say the hospital ship due to arrive at New York is "nonsense". As per the OP we can see Maddow is 100% wrong, and has probably (unnecessarily)caused panic and fear among her loyal viewers.

 

 

What is your excuse for the downplaying done by your president? Revoke his Twitter licence?

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

What is your excuse for the downplaying done by your president? Revoke his Twitter licence?

Our Presidents words and actions are best evaluated by history, in comparison to the actions of other wartime Presidents, in the context of war. 

 

 

1 minute ago, Nyezhov said:

Our Presidents words and actions are best evaluated by history, in comparison to the actions of other wartime Presidents, in the context of war. 

 

 

Terrible cop out. So even you can't defend him now.

12 minutes ago, stevenl said:

What is your excuse for the downplaying done by your president? Revoke his Twitter licence?

Well I can't speak on behalf of our Great president, but I suspect they deem a breakdown of law and order the biggest threat from this virus. That would account for Trump's cool demeanor and message. He doesn't want mass panic to breakout and armed gangs roaming the country taking anything they want and burning what they don't. This is of course disappointing for those that forecast and desperately want chaos and mayhem. Trump +1, the swamp -1

9 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Terrible cop out. So even you can't defend him now.

No, I dont care to feed the anti President Trump and anti American mob. Its a waste of my time. But, regardless, he is our President. We are at war and the war aint over. Folks are still arguing over the Somme, and that war is long won. Have a great day!

An inspiring moment and a tribute to the resilience of the American people.

It took some time for those in the US government to get their bearings but, once they understand a situation, by God, they move with speed, ambition, and decisiveness.

When they announced, in late January, the ban on travel from China, I remember thinking "Wow, someone there actually understands what is happening". No other country grasped the necessity until later months. Of course, the government was heavily criticized and denounced as racist by the media/Democrats, but that brave decision bought the American people invaluable time.
 
Those from other countries can sneer but, you have to ask, how many other major cities around the world will have a thousand-bed fully-equipped hospital ship float into their harbor?

Sadly, there will be no such rescue for the people of Bangkok.

 

 

 

20 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Well I can't speak on behalf of our Great president, but I suspect they deem a breakdown of law and order the biggest threat from this virus. That would account for Trump's cool demeanor and message. He doesn't want mass panic to breakout and armed gangs roaming the country taking anything they want and burning what they don't. This is of course disappointing for those that forecast and desperately want chaos and mayhem. Trump +1, the swamp -1

Trump’s cool demeanor, like ranting at reporters who ask him questions he doesn’t want to hear?!

 

Please provide evidence to back up your scurrilous assertion that anybody wants chaos and mayhem.

 

 

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by Chomper Higgot

7 minutes ago, donnacha said:

Those from other countries can sneer but, you have to ask, how many other major cities around the world will have a thousand-bed fully-equipped hospital ship float into their harbor?

Plus the Christian Charity Hospital just set up in Central Park, and I guess that the Corps of Engineers are building some more.

 

9 minutes ago, donnacha said:

It took some time for those in the US government to get their bearings but, once they understand a situation, by God, they move with speed, ambition, and decisiveness.

Sometimes you have to shine a light a little longer on the Fog of War. Sometimes its even the improvising on the ground, or the leadership of the smaller units that makes the difference.

 

The American machine!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship arrived in New York Harbor and docked on Manhattan's west side on Monday (March 30) after departing Norfolk, Virginia

 

Hospitals in the city have been overrun with patients suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. New York state accounts for almost half the country's more than 152,000 cases and more than 40% of its more than 2,800 deaths,

Might as well just tell severely infected to visit the local mortuary and lay in a coffin.  1,000 beds is not what is needed.  30,000 ventilators is what is needed.

 

Anyone who does meet the demographic and are currently not exhibiting "severe" symptoms, should not be given a hospital bed, no matter how good their insurance is. 

There are no drugs for a "flu" virus...fluids, rest, and ultimately a ventilator if respiratory system is failing is all that can be done.  

41 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

30,000 ventilators is what is needed

Is that the Govs last numbers? He has a press conference every day, how many NYers are on ventilators right now?

With the arrival of the US Navy, NYC, home of the anti military Trump haters, is now seeing its residents singing a different tune.

 

We all should join them as they cheer, "Thank you President and Commander-in-chief Donald J. Trump!"

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by Kelsall

An off topic rant post has been removed.

 

A post using an inflammatory baiting comment and the reply has been removed. 

Utter stupidity. Agree with Rachel Maddow. A ship is the absolute worst place to have these folks. Didn't anybody learn anything from the Diamond Princess?

But America loves its wars and its warmongers so anything military gets a big cheer.

40 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Utter stupidity. Agree with Rachel Maddow. A ship is the absolute worst place to have these folks. Didn't anybody learn anything from the Diamond Princess?

But America loves its wars and its warmongers so anything military gets a big cheer.

 

this is a ship designed to be a hospital.  why do you think it would be better to not have the ship in new york city to help with covid 19 ??  do you not realize freestanding hospitals are overwhelmed and due not enough capacity to care for all the cases? do you not know negative pressure patient rooms filled up a long time ago? 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Comfort_(T-AH-20)

 

Personnel:

Merchant Marine: 16 ROS; 61 Active

Navy Communications & Support: 58 (6 Officers, 52 Enlisted)

Medical and Dental (Active Only): 1,156

Aviation: Helicopter Landing Platform, 1 Spot

Radars: SPS-67 Surface Search

Patient capacity:

Intensive care wards: 80 beds

Recovery wards: 20 beds

Intermediate care wards: 280 beds

Light care wards: 120 beds

Limited care wards: 500 beds

Total Patient Capacity: 1000 beds

Operating Rooms: 12

Departments and facilities:

Casualty reception

Intensive care unit

Radiological services

Main laboratory plus satellite lab

Central sterile receiving

Medical supply/pharmacy

Physical therapy and burn care

Dental services

Optometry/lens lab

Morgue

Laundry

Oxygen producing plants (two)

Medical Photography

Four distilling plants to make drinking water from sea water (300,000 US gallons (1,100,000 l; 250,000 imp gal) per day)

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by atyclb

34 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Utter stupidity. Agree with Rachel Maddow. A ship is the absolute worst place to have these folks. Didn't anybody learn anything from the Diamond Princess?

But America loves its wars and its warmongers so anything military gets a big cheer.

If you'd bother to discover, the hospital ship is there to treat non-covid-19 cases so NYC hospitals can focus on treating covid-19 infected.

No covid-19 patients will go on board the state-of-the-art hospitals, which are able to treat any medical emergency and trauma.

People out welcoming the ship with no masks and standing near and moving amongst others. 
Just heard DrOz asked on Fox News about what will happen if this bug gets into the ship sent to help relive pressures on NY medical staff and facilities by servicing NON Covid patients.

I hope, sincerely that this action by Fed govt doesn’t end with those on the ship being infected.

5 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

A ship is the absolute worst place to have these folks.

Ships have lots of uses ????

5 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Utter stupidity. Agree with Rachel Maddow. A ship is the absolute worst place to have these folks. Didn't anybody learn anything from the Diamond Princess?

But America loves its wars and its warmongers so anything military gets a big cheer.

Did you read the OP?

"The Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients"

 

12 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I think it's time some of the blatant fake news outlets have their broadcasting license revoked. In these stressful times there is no excuse for the likes of MSNBC's Maddow to say the hospital ship due to arrive at New York is "nonsense". As per the OP we can see Maddow is 100% wrong, and has probably (unnecessarily)caused panic and fear among her loyal viewers.

 

 

If it wouldn't be for Trump ignoring the threat there would be no need for that ship.

 

Some bystanders chanted, "Trump, Trump, Trump," as the huge vessel neared the Midtown Manhattan pier where it docked.

 

Yep even New Yorkers are coming around,  They are going from zero to hero.

Some offensive posts and replies have been removed. 

9 hours ago, Kelsall said:

With the arrival of the US Navy, NYC, home of the anti military Trump haters, is now seeing its residents singing a different tune.

 

We all should join them as they cheer, "Thank you President and Commander-in-chief Donald J. Trump!"

Your patriotism always amazes me.  I don't usually agree with you, but I do respect you

26 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

 

Some bystanders chanted, "Trump, Trump, Trump," as the huge vessel neared the Midtown Manhattan pier where it docked.

 

Yep even New Yorkers are coming around,  They are going from zero to hero.

I think you may actually be  Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore.  ????

11 hours ago, SimpleMan555 said:

I did the research for you.... (TET: 3m)      'Google' is your friend  ????
 

"USNS Comfort docks in NY 10 days after Rachel Maddow said it would take 'weeks' 
(Fox News headline)

https://www.foxnews.com/media/usns-comfort-ny-rachel-maddow

The US Navy Hospital Ship is "like adding a whole other hospital to New York City," mayor says.
(CNN Headline)

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-30-20-intl-hnk/h_2f7ca98871d68447e7e5c9da15680e88

 

Chomp, Chomp.... ????

 

 

 

 

 

They will not treat virus cases.