New Orleans convention center open for patients

Coronavirus patients have started arriving at a New Orleans convention center that's been converted into a medical support facility to help alleviate the pressure on local hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak.

At least 10 patients were transported to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center this morning, according to Clayton Williams, a spokesman for the medical monitoring station at the convention center.

The plan is for the most critical patients to remain in hospitals and transfer those with less severe symptoms but in need of medical care to the convention center.

Meghan Maslanka, an emergency and disaster physician with University Medical Center of New Orleans, says that while most coronavirus-positive patients experience mild to moderate symptoms, about 20% will require medical attention.

The convention center is designed to accommodate patients who need oxygen, hydration and mobility assistance, to free up hospitals to care for the most critical patients, such as those requiring ventilators.

On Monday, the plan was to open with roughly 1,000 beds. If needed, it could be scaled up to offer as many as 3,000 beds.

All patient intake is directly from local hospitals, not an open-door policy like a traditional hospital emergency room. Only direct admits from hospitals will be allowed to enter.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says it's important that the general population continue to heed the "stay at home" mandate to help bring the number of virus cases down.

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.

The vast majority of people recover.