The number of COVID-19 cases among crewmembers of the Navy hospital ship Mercy has risen to seven while it is docked in the Port of Los Angeles to help serve the region’s patients who have not been stricken by the coronavirus, a local newspaper has reported.
The seven have been isolated off the ship, Cmdr. John Fage, a 3rd Fleet spokesman, told The San Diego Union-Tribune in an email dated April 13.
The Mercy’s ability to receive patients has not been affected, Fage added.
“The ship is following protocols and taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of all crewmembers and patients on board,” he said.
The Mercy left Naval Base San Diego on March 23 and arrived at Los Angeles four days later as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mission of the 1,000-bed ship and more than 800 medical personnel and support staff aboard is to relieve strain on local hospitals by providing care to patients who do not have COVID-19, allowing those hospitals to use intensive care units and ventilators for virus cases.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe life-threatening illness, including pneumonia.
As of Monday, Los Angeles County public health authorities reported 9,420 positive cases and 320 deaths.