The Navy hospital ship sent to relieve stressed New York City hospitals as coronavirus cases surged left for Hampton Roads Thursday.
The ship docked in Manhattan on March 30, and while it was originally deployed to care for non-coronavirus patients, by April 6 it had begun accepting those with the virus as the city’s hospitals continued to crowd.
Once in Norfolk, the ship will restock and remain ready for possible future deployments, according to the Navy.
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The hospital ship USNS Comfort departs New York Harbor after treating patients in New York and New Jersey. The ship and its embarked medical task force remain prepared for future tasking. The Navy, along with other U.S. Northern Command dedicated forces, remains engaged throughout the nation in support of the broader COVID-19 response.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brendan Fitzgerald/Released)
New York Police Department Pipes and Drums band play for the crew of the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) before they depart New York Harbor after treating patients in New York and New Jersey. The ship and its embarked medical task force remain prepared for future tasking. The Navy, along with other U.S. Northern Command dedicated forces, remains engaged throughout the nation in support of the broader COVID-19 response.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Keia Randall/Released)
The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departs New York Harbor after treating patients in New York and New Jersey. The ship and its embarked medical task force remain prepared for future tasking. The Navy, along with other U.S. Northern Command dedicated forces, remains engaged throughout the nation in support of the broader COVID-19 response.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Keia Randall/Released)
Sailors aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort render a salute to the NYPD as the ship departs New York Harbor after treating patients in New York and New Jersey. The ship and its embarked medical task force remain prepared for future tasking. The Navy, along with other U.S. Northern Command dedicated forces, remains engaged throughout the nation in support of the broader COVID-19 response (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sara Eshleman)
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