The Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital is opening today in Central Park to care for patients suffering from COVID-19.
The 14-tent, 68-bed respiratory care unit was designed especially for this coronavirus pandemic response. Patients are coming to us from our partner, the Mount Sinai Health System, which has, like other healthcare facilities, been overwhelmed by the increasing numbers of severely ill patients.
“Samaritan’s Purse has been asked to help in New York as the state and their medical infrastructure have been overwhelmed by the coronavirus,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We are grateful to be working alongside Mount Sinai Health System to help meet this critical need. In a time of crisis, we all have to come together to help people who are suffering. Samaritan’s Purse is responding in Jesus’ Name—please pray for everyone affected by this deadly virus.”
Dr. David L. Reich and other Mount Sinai staff toured the field hospital with our team today prior to the opening. Reich is president and chief operating officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital and President of Mount Sinai Queens, both part of the Mount Sinai Health System.
We have a Disaster Assistance Response Team of more than 70 doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel on the ground providing expert care and serving suffering people in Jesus’ Name. Our convoy of trucks arrived in the city on March 28 and our staff, along with local volunteers, worked tirelessly to prepare the hospital to receive patients in just 48 hours.
The situation in New York City is dire as the five boroughs are reporting a total of nearly 1,000 deaths and about 43,000 COVID-19 cases.
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These staggering numbers make the metropolis a major hotspot in this pandemic. The United States has reported nearly 200,000 active coronavirus cases—the highest total in the world—and, sadly, more than 3,000 deaths throughout the country.
“Mount Sinai Health System is grateful for the partnership with the Governor and Mayor in their leadership and support in the fight against this pandemic,” said Margaret Pastuszko, executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief strategy officer, Mount Sinai Health System. “In order to meet the needs of the coming surge, we must work as a united front in order save as many lives as possible. We are grateful for the collaboration with Samaritan’s Purse who have come to the aid of the people of Italy and now New York. Through this partnership, we are leveraging our collective resources to care for our patients and community.”
Please pray for our team as they demonstrate God’s love to every patient who comes to the field hospital. Pray for our Disaster Assistance Response Team serving in Italy, where we have another 68-bed Emergency Field Hospital set up outside of Milan. Pray also that God will soon bring an end to this deadly pandemic.
Whether airlifting our Emergency Field Hospital to Italy in the wake of disease outbreak, or responding to earthquakes and armed conflict, Samaritan's Purse stands ready to respond in the face of a myriad of medical crises. Your gift will help bring expert treatment, other basic needs and the hope of the Gospel to the sick and suffering.