ATLANTA — The Georgia World Congress Center is being considered as a potential temporary hospital as state officials say a surge in COVID-19 patients in coming weeks could exceed existing health care facilities.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced at a Wednesday press conference he was implementing a statewide shelter-in-place order on Friday to continue through at least April 13. The order aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 so that hospitals are not inundated with patients needing critical care, he said.
But a surge in new COVID-19 cases this month are expected to surpass what the state has available to treat these patients, leading to searches for new sites, including the GWCC. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently constructing “alternative care sites” to treat COVID-19 patients in New York, Illinois and Michigan.
“Last week the Army Corps of Engineers toured GWCC to assess the venue’s viability as a short-term treatment facility,” said GWCC spokesperson Holly Richmond in an email to the Alanta Business Chronicle.
“At this time, we have not been mobilized. We are prepared and stand ready to assist the citizens of Georgia by alleviating stress on the state’s healthcare resources,” she said.
Candace Broce, spokesperson for Gov. Kemp, said the GWCC is on the state’s list of potential sites but may not have the necessary infrastructure.
Read the full article at the Atlanta Business Chronicle.