Navy ships dock in Los Angeles, New York to help hospitals during coronavirus outbreak

The Comfort arrived ahead of schedule in New York on Monday morning, while the Mercy has already begun accepting patients in LA

By Sophie Mann

Published: March 30, 2020 11:45am

Updated: March 30, 2020 1:54pm

The U.S. Naval Ship called "Comfort" docked in New York City on Monday morning, at Pier 90 off of Manhattan's West Side, and will begin accepting patients within 24 hours. The ship will serve as an overflow hospital for non-coronavirus patients in the city.

The ship boasts 1,000 beds and 12 operating rooms. It is also equipped with lab facilities and oxygen-producing plants.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio met the ship as it arrived this morning.

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The Comfort, which had been undergoing maintenance in Norfolk, Virginia was "rushed out of maintenance with historic speed. It was supposed to be here for four weeks, and they did it in four days," President Trump said.

The Comfort had previously been stationed off the West Side of Manhattan following the terror attacks of 2001.

On the other coast, the USNS Mercy accepted its first patients in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Navy ship is docked at the Port of L.A., and will serve as a hospital for non-coronavirus patients who are referred by Los Angeles-area hospitals.