NY governor calls on Trump to use Army Corps of Engineers to expand hospital capacity

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is calling on President Trump to activate the Army Corps of Engineers to increase hospital capacity in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The governor cautioned in a New York Times op-ed that the U.S. has not dealt with the pandemic on a national level like other countries, which are still struggling, and predicted the failure of the hospital system is “all but certain.”

Cuomo warned that states cannot build hospitals fast enough as the virus spreads, adding that the U.S. has fewer hospitals beds per 1,000 people than China, South Korea and Italy, and noting that some of them are reaching capacity. “At this point, our best hope is to utilize the Army Corps of Engineers to leverage its expertise, equipment and people power to retrofit and equip existing facilities — like military bases or college dormitories — to serve as temporary medical centers,” he wrote. “Then we can designate existing hospital beds for the acutely ill.”

The governor cited the president’s declaration of a national emergency as reasoning to allow active-duty Army Corps personnel to help with expanding hospital capacity.,“Doing so still won’t provide enough intensive care beds, but it is our best hope,” he continued.

Cuomo also requested the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stop “overregulating” the testing process to allow states to conduct more tests. He called Trump’s move to authorize local labs a “good first step,” but said it was “insufficient.”
“Mr. Trump, don’t let bureaucracy get in the way of fighting this virus,” he wrote. “Break the logjam, let states fully take over testing so they can unleash hundreds of labs tomorrow and bring testing to scale. It is the only way we will have a chance of keeping up with the rapid spread of this contagion."

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/487650-cuomo-calls-on-trump-to-use-army-corps-of-engineers-to

[madville]

1. They can build hospitals all day But who will staff them?

Where would they get thousands of ICU nurses and hundreds of doctors in the next few months to staff these proposed hospitals is the major question. Many medical personnel are going to wind up quarantined themselves before this is all over.

[janterry]

4. cuomo has been calling med schools and nursing schools

and retired professionals. It won't be enough. But he's taking ALL of the steps he can.

He's doing a great job.

[madville]

5. Sounds like a nightmare from a liability standpoint

Unlicensed students caring for ICU patients, and under what malpractice insurance I wonder. Lawyers will have a field day with that after the crisis is over. I do wonder how many retired professionals would step up, they would likely be older in age and at the most risk of death from the virus.

[janterry]

6. I think he's doing it thoughtfully

He's not asking a month into a program to act as an RN. But people who are close to graduating, if they couldn't do some level of assistance. He said something about exploring it with the licensing board and understand the regs (maybe make then an aide, of sorts - idk).

But he was thinking about those issues - I don't know the upshot of those convo's.

At least he's trying actively problem solve .

[Sloumeau]

2. This is good but should have happened weeks ago. nt

[not fooled]

3. GOPee doesn't want to

empower the Federal government. Doing so goes against their decades-long quest to destroy it. Lots of Americans will die because of the GOPee's worship of the "market" aka stuff every penny into the pockets of their donors.

[KewlKat]

7. Let's see, spring floods, dam operations, etc...and of course the corps employees

Can also get sick. So where will the people come from to build or retrofit buildings when they also have to cover other emergencies, like hurricanes, floods, etc...the cargo cubes China used to build their hospital sounds like the fastest way to accomplish hospital expansion versus retrofit and exposing our troops by housing sick folks on military bases is of great concern to me. Why do we risk our nations soldiers by placing them in harms way?

[Drahthaardogs]

8. No time. The Corps hasn't built things themselves for decades

They oversee the construction of design-build contracts. Their RAPID infrastructure capabilities can help, but they still need a design and its not like those are just sitting on a shelf.

Maybe repurposing an existing building...