NYC's Javits Center wll take COVID-19 patients

New York City's Javits Center will receive COVID-19 patients, and so will temporary hospital facilities at the New Orleans and Dallas convention centers in a change announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

Trump said he agreed on the change following a request by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

"We had meetings on it with the task force. We had meetings with the military, and I've decided to say, yes, I'm going to do that", Trump said during a daily briefing at the White House.

The president said that based on the change in New York City, he decided to make a similar change in New Orleans and Dallas.

The president says the military and the federal government will also staff the three facilities to provide the care needed by COVID-19 patients.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.