One of California’s first active COVID-19 coronavirus field respite
centers, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, took in its first
two patients Sunday, Santa Clara County officials said.
Operated through a contract with the state, this field
respire center will increase the county’s capacity to treat residents diagnosed
with COVID-19.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said in a
statement that, “Today’s patients will have the ability to recuperate in a
safe setting while still sheltering in place (and) keeping all of our residents
and essential workers protected.” Santa Clara County, she said, will continue
to look to local partners as well as state and federal resources to help treat COVID-19
patients.
The converted convention center has 250 beds, plus supplies
and medicines delivered by the National Guard, to serve patients with
less-acute COVID-19 symptoms. This will free up hospital beds to treat more
seriously ill patients.
The converted convention center “backstops hospitals
and other care providers preparing for a surge in COVID-19 cases,” said
Dr. Jennifer Tong, the Branch Director for the Health Care Surge team within
the Santa Clara County Emergency Operations Center.
Patients will be admitted via referral from other facilities
– there will be no walk-up services available.
Santa Clara County is also working with businesses such as
hotels to establish additional care locations and options for vulnerable populations,
with sites secured in San Jose, Santa Clara and Gilroy to shelter and isolate
homeless individuals, health officials said in a statement.
“We are exploring every possible option in order to
make sure all of our community members can receive care during the COVID-19
crisis,” said Dr. Jeffrey V. Smith, Santa Clara County Executive.
For more information about COVID-19 activities in Santa Clara County, go to http://www.sccphd.org/coronavirus.
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Source: NBC Bay Area