NEW YORK - Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the USNS Comfort will now be used to treat coronavirus patients.
Cuomo announced on Twitter that President Trump approved the state's request to use USNS Comfort to treat COVID-19.
CBS News reports during Monday's press conference, Cuomo said he would ask Trump for permission to treat coronavirus on Comfort following data that showed because of social distancing, hospitalizations for other causes, such as car accidents, are way down.
#BREAKING: I spoke to the president and he has agreed to our request to treat #COVID patients on the USNS Comfort.
This means 1,000 additional beds staffed by federal personnel.
This will provide much-needed relief to our over stressed hospital systems.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 6, 2020
A total of 286 pallets of food, valued at nearly $700,000 were loaded onto the Comfort.
