Hospital ship Mercy arrives in Los Angeles

The 1,000-bed U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy arrived in the Los Angeles area Friday morning and could be ready as early as Saturday to provide care to non-coronavirus patients in order to ease the crush on hospitals.

The Mercy departed San Diego on Monday bound for Los Angeles. Doctors will be able to perform surgery in nine operating rooms and the ship will be able to care for intensive care patients.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will also deploy eight Army field hospitals to the state with a 2,000-bed capacity to also treat non-coronavirus patients, Sen Dianne Feinstein, D-California, announced.

Los Angeles officials announced plans Monday to expand testing for the coronavirus as authorities closed more beach parking lots to prevent the pandemic's spread after large groups flocked to the coast and mountains to get some fresh air on the first weekend since the state's stay-at-home order took effect.

City and county officials said they had contracted with a South Korean company to be able to test up to 5,000 people a day by Friday, significantly ramping up an effort that has lagged nationwide amid the outbreak.

The announcement came as public health officials re-emphasized the need for all but essential workers, or people shopping for food, getting medications or visiting the doctor, to stay home and keep their distance from others.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

(Image credit: AP)