Coronavirus Latest: Medical Staff Arrive At Temple's Liacouras Center As They Prepare To Open COVID-19 Overflow Facility
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Liacouras Center, which houses concerts and Temple University's home basketball games, would normally be prepping for its annual May graduation. Instead, 180 beds and medical equipment line the floor in preparation of overflow COVID-19 patients.
The site is called the "COVID Surge Facility."
"The hospital is set up to where they can open up in modules, one with 36 beds and if 36 beds look like they need to be fulfilled, they open another 36 beds," Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said.
Dr. Farley says 50 health care workers were sent to the Liacouras Center Monday for training and says they will be sent on an as-needed basis.
Temple health officials say crews installed a liquid oxygen tank on Friday. Philadelphia ambulances will also be on hand once the site opens.
Temple offered its main campus to Philadelphia, free of charge after the owner of a now vacant Hahnemann Hospital wanted to charge the city to use it.
Temple officials say they have enough personal protective equipment for health care workers, and that more medical supplies on the way.
"We will use the next couple of days to make sure they are all trained, educated and orientated and that we go through all the clinical processes to make sure we haven't missed anything, although we feel we have been very diligent so far," Aria Health President Dr. Sandra Gomberg said.
The Liacouras Center will start accepting COVID-19 patients on Thursday.
