Army setting up hospital at CenturyLink Field Event Center

SEATTLE — On Monday, Army trucks hauled in containers with the supplies needed to build a field hospital in the CenturyLink Field Event Center.

On Saturday, Brigadier General Doug Cherry talked about the coronavirus response like the battle it is.

"We are fighting alongside each other in this battle against an unseen enemy," Cherry told reporters.

Army officials said once everything is on site, soldiers can build the hospital within three days.

Unless there are unforeseen delays, the Army expects the hospital to be ready by the end of the week.

COVID-19 patients will not come to the field hospital.

The 148-bed facility will free up space in Seattle hospitals by allowing them to transfer non-COVID patients to the event center.

"We know that many of our hospitals are being overtaxed by COVID, and we know that it's going to be worse," Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Saturday.

It's not clear if the field hospital will be needed immediately.

King County health officials told KIRO 7 that right now, local hospitals are maintaining available capacity.

But they're also dealing with what health officials say are reduced supplies of personal protective gear like masks.

The temporary hospital will be built and run by the 627th Hospital Center from Fort Carson, Colorado.

Officials say that 300 soldiers arrived on Friday.

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