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National Guard transforms LA Convention Center into field hospital amid coronavirus pandemic

By Mary Stringini
Updated  March 30, 2020 11:22am PDT
Coronavirus
FOX 11

National Guard turning LA Convention Center into field hospital

California's governor is asking for a surge of help for the healthcare industry as we prepare for a surge of victims. He also announced that thousands of new hospital beds are being made available.

LOS ANGELES - The massive Los Angeles Convention Center was converted into a federal field hospital by the California National Guard over the weekend in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Airmen from the National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing out of the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station set up dozens of cots and unpacked medical supplies in the halls of the center to house patients and provide relief to the areas overly crowded hospitals.

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The idea right now is to transfer non-coronavirus patients from hospitals to the Convention Center to free up much-needed hospital beds for the expected surge.

However, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday said it might be turned into a treatment facility for COVID-19 patients with lesser symptoms.

RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.