THE RED TAPE KEEPING COVID PATIENTS FROM THE COMFORT
Non Covid patients only
From the outset, the plan was for the USNS Comfort to only take patients who did not have the virus and alleviate some of the pressure on the hospital system.
A specific reason for that decision was never given but it was likely to avoid infecting the Navy or putting the physical ship in a position where it might have to be taken out of commission and disinfected
Ambulances can't take anyone directly there
Patients are not allowed to go directly to the USNS Comfort. First, an ambulance takes them to a city hospital.
Then, they are tested for the virus and evaluated. They are then transported if they test negative.
Ship may need to be reconfigured for COVID-19 patients
A military doctor told The New York Times that the ship is fitted with narrow cot beds that are suitable for young, otherwise healthy soldiers with battlefield wounds, but may not be for older patients.
The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among people over the age of 65.
Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system, has called the Navy's restrictions a 'joke' as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo argued the ship should begin to accept coronavirus patients. Mayor Bill de Blasio has said Sunday, April 5, will be 'D-Day' for the city and is when the hospitals will run out of supplies and staffing.
On Friday, de Blasio told CNN he believes the Navy will agree to start letting COVID patients come on board.
'There's no question in my mind that's going to get resolved very quickly, you're going to see that number grow.
'Having the Comfort here is a very important thing here in NYC. I don't have a doubt in my mind the Comfort is going to be filled up soon and the Javits is going to be filled up soon. That's the easy part.
'The hard part is the hospitals dealing with a massive surge in the coming days. We need more doctors and nurses.
'If we have the equipment, lives are going to be saved. If we don't' people are going to die who still do not need to die,' he said.
The Javits Center is a 2,900-bed facility that was constructed by the National Guard and by the US Army Corps of Engineers in just five days last week.
It too said it would only take non-coronavirus patients initially, but Gov. Cuomo convinced President Trump to change that policy this week. It is now accepting COVID-19 patients.
That is yet to happen with the Comfort. Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health - NY's largest hospital system - said it was a 'joke'. '
'If I'm blunt about it, it's a joke.