Coronavirus Hospital At McCormick Place Set To Open Next Week

CHICAGO — The city's new coronavirus safety net — a 2,250 room alternative hospital at McCormick Place — should be ready to accept COVID-19 positive patients suffering moderate symptoms next week, officials said.

In just two weeks, the Illinois National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 600 Chicago labor union workers put in more than 60,000 man hours to build rooms and outfit the so-called Alternate Care Facility with 100 new water lines, 1,000 electrical outlets and more than 100 data lines used to store data and more quickly admit patients once hospitals begin diverting them to McCormick Place.

“I want to stress how remarkable it was to put together a robust, unique medical care facility in such a short amount of time and with limited resources,” Mayor Lightfoot said.

“This facility is poised to be one of the largest in the nation and, the only site with individual negative pressure tents for patients, and this is just another step in our comprehensive strategy to address the COVID-19 healthcare crisis. But this project would not be possible without the exemplary work and coordination between multiple government departments, agencies, our trade unions together, and I want to commend them for their tremendous work here because they have made it possible for us to save many lives.”

Chicago officials have also begun onsite training for 150 medical professionals set to staff the alternative hospital for the expected increase in coronavirus patients.