The USNS Comfort floating hospital ship arrived in New York City on Monday morning. The 1,000 bed ship which has not been seen in the NYC since the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be treating non-coronavirus patients as city hospitals continue to be overwhelmed with new patients.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo were both at Pier 90 to welcome the ship as it docked shortly after 11 a.m., along side many city residents who joined in documenting its arrival.
On Saturday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said during his press briefing that the USNS Comfort “also brings medical personnel, which frankly are more important than the beds in this case.” And in a tweet on Monday morning he says the ship brings, 1,000 beds, 1,200 medical personnel, 12 operating rooms, a pharmacy and a laboratory.
We will fight every way we can to save every life we can.
Thank you, USNS Comfort. Welcome to New York. pic.twitter.com/ppGrJ0rGE5
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020
On the arrival of the massive ship, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, “We just got some major reinforcements in teh COVID-19 fight — the USNavy’s Comfort has arrived in New York City.
The Mayors office later tweeted some photos of the ships arrival and quoted de Blasio indirectly thanking the federal support, “We have evidence here we are not alone. We are not alone. Our nation is helping us in our hour of need.”
“We have evidence here we are not alone. We are not alone. Our nation is helping us in our hour of need.”
— @NYCMayor welcomes the USNS Comfort and its extraordinary personnel and equipment to New York City. pic.twitter.com/Pc3qqLzohs
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 30, 2020
Governor Cuomo was less coy in his thanks to the federal government in a message that will presumably be read favorably by Trump. He says, “Welcome to New York, USNS Comfort. We knew from the outset that expanded hospital capacity was critical. We asked and the federal government answered. This ship is a step forward in our fight against Coronavirus.”
Welcome to New York, @USNSComfort.
We knew from the outset that expanded hospital capacity was critical.
We asked and the federal government answered.
This ship is a step forward in our fight against Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/r6Hj8NL9JH
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 30, 2020
This is one of the rare uplifting moments in the past few months and many New Yorkers were quick to share on social media.
Welcome to NY, USNS Comfort
(photo credit @GarethRhodes ) pic.twitter.com/VU4ZhMAt64
— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) March 30, 2020
New Yorkers welcome the USNS Comfort to our city. pic.twitter.com/Xsl9TyjPKw
— City of New York (@nycgov) March 30, 2020
Esperando la llegada del Barco Hospital USNS COMFORT que arribará en breve al muelle 90 de #NYC el rio Hudson espera a este coloso de 70 mil toneladas equipado con alta tecnologia medica y c tripulacion militar y civil. Para ingresar al Pier me tomaron la temperatura #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/n5dssn7r0u
— SilvinaSterinPensel✨ (@SilSterinPensel) March 30, 2020
At Pier 90, Comfort arrives. pic.twitter.com/Bg5ruSZW06
— Sarah Boxer (@Sarah_Boxer) March 30, 2020
What an amazing sight! To all aboard the #USNSComfort, the #NYStatePolice and all the doctors and nurses the world over ... THANK YOU. pic.twitter.com/OJGP68Q2nv
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) March 30, 2020
Cover Image Courtesy of Lou Paskalis
