While a temporary hospital at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine was originally scheduled to begin admitting patients by the end of this week, it was just announced that the project will be cancelled.
The original plans called for doctors from Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital to assist with overflow patients who would be cared for at the church. Jason Kaplan, a spokesperson for the hospital, told CBS News, “Given the most recent data, we are optimistic that we are seeing a flattening of the curve. As such, we are reassessing needs, resources and plans for how best to care for New Yorkers” .
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Reverend Patrick Malloy of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine told ENS, “Mount Sinai, which is investing a great deal of money in this [effort against COVID-19], has decided that, given the way the curve is falling, they could make better use of the money elsewhere, and Samaritan’s Purse could partner with them more effectively elsewhere,” also noting that the overflow hospitals which have been set up in Manhattan remain largely empty.
However, another statement made by a spokesperson for the church told ABC News that “the staff had ‘a really hard time; dealing with past comments from the organization about LGBTQ people and decided not to move forward.”
The cancellation of the temporary hospital comes after beds and medical equipment were already delivered and set up within the church walls.
Featured images by Flickr user Kripa Chettiar
I’m glad CSJTD decided against affiliating themselves with what I believe is a vile organization. Samaritan’s Purse is a sows ear and I am offended by the NY Parks Department letting them stay In Central Park.
Even if they didn’t realize SP was run by bigoted, soulless people when they agreed at the start of our horror story, once they discovered just who they are, that should have been evicted!