Coronavirus Philadelphia: City, Temple University Reach Agreement To Use Liacouras Center, Other Facilities As Hospital Space
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With the number of coronavirus cases continuing to rise in Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney announced Friday that Temple University has agreed to allow the city to use The Liacouras Center and other Temple facilities as hospital space. This announcement comes just one day after Kenney said the city ended negotiations with the owner of the shuttered Hahnemann Hospital building.
Kenney says the university allowed them to use The Liacouras Center free of charge.
"We are truly Temple proud," Kenney said.
Big news for this Friday: Temple University has stepped up during this critical time. We reached an agreement to use The Liacouras Center and other Temple facilities as hospital space. #TempleMade #ThankYouPhilly pic.twitter.com/QhjxCN0leM
— Jim #VaxUpPhilly Kenney (@PhillyMayor) March 27, 2020
The Liacouras Center will have the capacity to house 250 hospital beds as well as medical equipment. The city will also work with Federal Emergency Management teams to staff the facility.
Temple has also stepped up to allow other facilities to be used as hospital space.
Kenney went on to say this decision was to avoid hospitals becoming as strained as those in other areas.
"I'm sure all of you have seen the situation just 95 miles north of Philadelphia in New York, where hospitals are struggling mightily," Kenney said.
The mayor says supplies will begin being moved into The Liacouras Center in the coming days, but the hope is that the city will not have to use it.
"We need to be ready, we are doing everything we can to be ready. Materials and supplies will be moving into The Liacouras Center over the next few days. I sincerely hope we never have to use the supplies or this space but we will be ready if we do," he said.
There are currently 637 coronavirus cases in Philadelphia and three deaths have been reported. The latest two deaths are of women in their 70s who had underlying health conditions.
Health officials also say that a Department of Corrections officer and one prisoner have tested positive for the virus.
On Thursday, City Council members gave approval to an $85 million emergency budget to address Philadelphia's COVID-19 crisis.