OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:08 AM PT — Friday, April 10, 2020
The state of Washington is packing up a makeshift field hospital to
be sent to another state that has been hit worse by the coronavirus. On
Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the 250 bed hospital built in
Seattle’s CenturyLink Field Event Center will be sent back to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).This marks the first return of hospital beds to the federal government at the face of the ongoing pandemic. The facility, built just a week ago, was meant to receive non-COVID-19 patients to provide relieve for crowded hospitals as Washington was one of the first states hit by the coronavirus.
However, early action limited the spread of the contagious COVID-19. According to Inslee, hospitals in the area are now able to maintain capacity and support a surge in patients. This came just days after the state returned hundreds of ventilators received from FEMA to be sent to New York.
The field hospital was staffed by soldiers from Fort Carson, Colorado and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. In a statement, Inslee said he was grateful for their efforts on behalf of the community and sent well wishes as they “continue to serve communities across the country in greater need.”
However, the governor said the decision does not mean Washington is out of the woods just yet. He stressed the importance of staying home, maintaining social distancing protocol and only stepping out for essential activities.
