Gov. Bill Lee announced Wednesday that the state is preparing for the “worst-case scenario” as the state braces for a surge of COVID-19 cases in the next couple of weeks. Thursday, Lee shared exactly what the state is doing to prepare for the surge.
Lee announced Thursday that FEMA approved Tennessee’s COVID-19 major disaster declaration, which accelerates Tennessee’s efforts to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers and expand statewide capacity by an additional 7,000 beds.
According to Lee’s COVID-19 Daily Bulletin, the Corps of Engineers is working for FEMA and in partnership with Tennessee in responding to the pandemic. Through Tennessee’s partnership with the Corps of Engineers, the state is assessing sites like convention centers, college dormitories, hotels and other facilities across Tennessee to build capacity and create alternate healthcare facilities.
- The Music City Center in downtown Nashville will be transformed into a COVID-19 positive non-acute alternate healthcare facility. It will serve COVID-19 patients who need hospital care, but do not require critical care. The current plan for the Music City Center is to provide more than 1,600 patient care spaces.
- In Memphis, the Corps will be constructing a COVID-19 positive non-acute alternate healthcare facility at Gateway Shopping Center. Additional sites in Memphis are being actively assessed to ensure capacity in this hotspot is built up quickly and efficiently.
- Chattanooga Convention Center and the Knoxville Expo Center will also serve as a COVID-19 positive Non-Acute Alternate Healthcare facility.
While facilities are a key part of planning for a surge in COVID-19 patients, Lee said the state must have staff available to care for COVID-19 patients. All displaced or furloughed health care personnel are urged to register on the Tennessee Department of Health website here.