Officials announce mobile hospital as additional care site for Kent and Sussex Counties

SMYRNA, Del. -Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the State Health Operations Center announced on Tuesday plans for an additional alternate care site to support Kent and Sussex Counties during the coronavirus pandemic.

We’re told this plan is to accommodate overflow patients from Delaware hospital systems as they begin to experience a surge in patients with the virus. This mobile hospital will join the other two previously announced hospitals, one on the campus of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and the second at Governor Bacon Health Center.

This site will be a collaborative effort between Bayhealth, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, and Beebe Healthcare. The primary goal is to maintain the surge within current hospitals. If needed, the state has offered to set up a mobile hotspot as an alternative care site.

Site evaluations have been performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Delaware National Guard, who will provide crucial assistance with preparing, building, and operating the facility.

We’re told that right now hospitals are managing patients with their current staffing, but are prepared for the expected increase in the coming days. This location will be opened to alleviate the surge on hospitals when necessary.