Navy hospital ship arrives in New York

A U.S. Navy hospital ship arrived at New York Harbor on Monday to help relieve local hospitals being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients.

The USNS Comfort will treat non-coronavirus patients, freeing up beds so local hospitals can focus on COVID-19.

USNS Comfort has arrived in NYC. It’s passing World Trade Center right now on the Hudson River. I can hear cheering from Jersey City. pic.twitter.com/a7kTK2dmQh

— Kevin Rincon (@KevRincon) March 30, 2020

The Comfort’s arrival in New York comes just two days after it left its home port in Norfolk, Va.

“This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York, a place I know very well, a place I love,” President Trump said Saturday as he saw off the ship.

The ship has a capacity of 1,000 beds and is expected to be staffed by about 1,200 personnel.

The death toll in New York state from coronavirus has surpassed 1,000, with the total number of confirmed cases nearing 60,000 as of Sunday night.

The U.S. Navy operates two hospital ships, the Mercy and the Comfort, to help with relief efforts during crises. The Comfort was last in New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks helping aid first responders.

USNS Comfort passes the Statue of Liberty as it enters New York Harbor.

(Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters) pic.twitter.com/scYz5gjeAC

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 30, 2020

The Navy dispatched the Mercy, which is based on the West Coast, to Los Angeles with the same mission of relieving local hospitals fighting the coronavirus. The Mercy arrived in the Port of Los Angeles on Friday and began accepting patients Sunday.

The USNS Comfort seen sailing to New York Harbor from a NYS escort vessel.

The Comfort brings 1,000 much-needed hospital beds & 1,200 personnel to New York. I’ll be in NYC to receive a briefing upon its arrival. pic.twitter.com/VpHpjymsow

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020