Trump to Virginia to see USNS Comfort depart for New York to help with coronavirus

President Trump said Thursday that he’ll travel to Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday to see the hospital ship USNS Comfort depart for New York City to help with the coronavirus effort.

The president indicated the vessel will tend to patients without the virus, to help New York hospitals that are reaching capacity with patients with the Covid-19 infection. 

Trump said crews repaired and updated the vessel weeks ahead of schedule. 

More than 1,200 medical personnel and critical supplies will be onboard the vessel.  And among the medical personnel will be doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, x-ray technicians and orderlies, according to the White House. 

The deployment of the USNS Comfort follows the deployment of the USNS Mercy earlier this week to Los Angeles from Naval Station San Diego, California.