The USNS Comfort, a 1000-bed United States Navy hospital ship, arrived at Pier 90 on New York City’s Upper West Side today, to help relieve New York treatment facilities overwhelmed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomed the USNS Comfort to New York, tweeting that, “This ship is a step forward in our fight against Coronavirus.” He later followed up with a tweet stating, “This day will be remembered.”
With 750 beds ready, patients are being moved in and treated as early as Tuesday, March 31.
The last time the USNS Comfort was deployed to New York City was after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers.
Here is a look at the USNS Comfort’s arrival.
A United States Navy Corpsman takes the temperature of reporter before escorting them into Pier 90, March 30, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge
USNS Comfort crew members gather on the top deck as the ship prepares to turn into Pier 90, March 30, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge
United States Marines and NYPD guard a checkpoint in front of Pier 90, March 30, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge
A crowd gathers to welcome the USNS Comfort to New York, March 30, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge
New York State Environmental Police stand watch as part of a joint effort between military and law enforcement to welcome the USNS Comfort to New York. Photo by Thomas Hengge
A man holds up a sign welcoming the USNS Comfort to New York City, March 30, 2020. Photo by Thomas Hengge
