New Lowell Field Hospital To Begin Taking Patients Monday

LOWELL, MA — The new Lowell General coronavirus field hospital at UMass Lowell will open for patients Monday, the hospital said.

Only Lowell General patients will be accepted the first week. The hospital will open for regional transfers the following Monday, Jan. 4, if additional staffing is secured.

The site has an initial capacity of 14 patients but could scale up to 77 with sufficient staff, if needed.

The hospital is still seeking staff, at lowellgeneralresponds.com.

Gov. Charlie Baker toured the field hospital with Lowell General leaders Thursday.

“We are grateful to the Baker Administration, Massachusetts Emergency Management Association and UMass Lowell for their partnership in standing up this care site, which may become a valuable community resource in the coming days and weeks,” said Lowell General Hospital President and CEO Jody White.

Lowell General first set up a field hospital in April amid the virus's first wave in Massachusetts. It operated for a month before being shut down.

The new site will treat recovering patients nearing discharge, like the original one, but it will also provide additional care like IV medication, lowell General said.

“It is our sincere hope that this site won’t be needed, but we are preparing for every scenario,” White said. “We ask everyone in the Merrimack Valley community and across the state to stand with our healthcare workers and continue measures to stop the spread of this virus.”

The hospital has had its resources stretched thin since Thanksgiving, with 62 COVID-positive patients in its care as of Thursday.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.