NYC to turn US Open tennis courts into coronavirus hospital with hopes of playing in August
Serena Williams of the United States in action against Magda Linette of Poland in the first round of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on August 27, 2018 in New York City, United States.The tennis courts that host the U.S. Open are being turned into a field hospital for coronavirus patients as New York City officials ramp up medical staff, supplies and facilities for an anticipated wave of COVID-19 patients in April and May, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday.
"I think the time horizon that's of deepest concern to New York city is April-May, and thereafter we pray that we start to come out of this, but it won't be instant," de Blasio told reporters at the tennis center in Queens on Tuesday. "August may be a very, very much better time or we may still be fighting some of these battles. We don't know yet. By late summer, we may get some good news.
Over the weekend, Samaritan's Purse and Mount Sinai Health System in New York City began erecting a field hospital in Central Park. The hospital is located in front of Mount Sinai Hospital in the park's East Meadow and is scheduled to open on Tuesday,De Blasio said it will take three weeks to fully build the hospital at the tennis center; that patients will be transferred from New York City's Elmhurst hospital starting next week.
Officials said they hope the city will be able to host the annual tennis tournament, which is one of four Grand Slams throughout the year.
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