Vancouver Convention Centre to reopen as medical facility April 8
Posted April 2, 2020 5:31 pm.
Last Updated April 2, 2020 5:32 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The transformation of the Vancouver Convention Centre into a 271-bed medical treatment centre is set to be complete by next Wednesday.
The Vancouver Coastal Health region has recorded 525 cases of the novel coronavirus and 61 people remain in hospital.
The “alternative response centre” at the convention centre is being set up to free up hospital space to treat patients with COVID-19.
“The purpose of the alternate care site is to add more bed capacity for lower acuity, non-COVID-19 patients to allow additional capacity within regional hospitals for critically ill COVID-19 patients who may need access to our critical care units,” reads a release from the health authority.
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The centre will open April 8 with an initial capacity for 271 patient, but more beds can be added.
“While VCH continues to be cautiously optimistic that the COVID-19 curve can be flattened, precautionary steps continue to be taken, including setting up an alternate care site, as part of the pandemic response,” the statement says.
The site will not allow walk-in patients, admission will be reserved for those transferred in from hospitals.
Visitor restrictions that apply at other Vancouver Coastal Health sites will be in effect.
