McCormick center transition to covid center

hot_rod

https://s3-prod.chicagobusiness.com/styles/width_736/s3/CT coronavirus-McCormick-Place-Pritzker002.JPG


Javits and others are converted by Army Corp

Sal Santamaura

hot_rod said:

...Javits and others are converted by Army Corp

Actually, contractors are doing all the work. The Corps provides rapid design services and private entities perform the construction. That was spelled out more explicitly in a previous interview, but General Semonite described it further last evening:

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/under-pressure-army-corps-of-engineers-adapts-to-demands-covid-19-puts-on-states-81765445622

RayWohlfarth

Thats incredible Isn't it

hot_rod

Sal Santamaura said:

hot_rod said:

...Javits and others are converted by Army Corp

Actually, contractors are doing all the work. The Corps provides rapid design services and private entities perform the construction. That was spelled out more explicitly in a previous interview, but General Semonite described it further last evening:

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/under-pressure-army-corps-of-engineers-adapts-to-demands-covid-19-puts-on-states-81765445622

Yep, that is the point I wanted to make, the tradespeople stepping up to make this happen.

The Steam Whisperer

I am not sure which Hall that is.... It looks like it may be the lower level of the oldest and smallest building... the one on the lake. I am not sure how much of the 2.6 Million sq ft complex is going to be converted, but so far I think they are planning on 3,000 beds. I am glad Chicago and Illinois are jumping on this to be ready for the peak cases that are expected in Chicago sometime in July. At least the rich hotel man leading Illinois (Pritzker) is smarter than some others. When they announced that this field hospital was being set up it sent chills down my spine....It really starts to hit home how bad this could get. I pray and emphathize for New York City... They were hit so early and so very hard. The two great, though very different and competing, American cities have a shared sadness today.

SlamDunk

If I had to be laid up, I'd want to be in laid up in St. John the Divine. More to look at.

PRR

The Steam Whisperer said:

When they announced that this field hospital was being set up it sent chills down my spine....It really starts to hit home how bad this could get.

We been here before, but only a few people lived long enough to remember 1918.

Bar Harbor Maine is much-much smaller than Chicago. But money: in 1918 they had a very spiffy hospital. (Much of the money was older people.) When the 1918 flu came around the hospital was overwhelmed. They converted the Oddfellows hall to overflow hospital.

With modern highways today's plan is to ship our sick 30 miles inland to a converted sports/convention hall.

The Steam Whisperer

McCormick Place is located about midpoint between the Illinois medical district ( several huge hospitals) next to U of I Chicago and the University of Chicago Hospital Complex. Both are about 15 minutes away, so life threatening cases can be transferred to these huge hospitals, plus a few smaller ones that are nearby. I suspect Chicago may be getting cases from Wisconsin and Indiana since they are probably going to be overwhelmed. I am not sure what preparations are in place in Milwaukee, Madison, Rockford and Gary.