DETROIT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit announced Friday that construction has been completed at the state's first Alternative Care Facility in the TCF Center.
The TCF Center Alternate Care Facility is one of the first in the nation to be turned over to the state.
Construction included triage area, patient support services such as showers and toilets, staff changing areas and administrative space, a command center and pharmacy. The 350,000-square foot conversion of the convention center into a medical facility with 970 bed spaces across two floors for COVID-19 patients took nine days.
The Alternate Care Facility will start accepting patients April 10.
The work was performed at "an exceptional pace" the Army Corps said in a press release. The design required a manifold system that put copper pipes in the ceiling to deliver oxygen into 600 patient bed spaces in Hall C of the TCF Center. Both Halls C and E were converted into a negative pressure area essentially creating a vacuum in the space that will exhaust any possible airborne contamination.
The state's second field hospital will be located at the Suburban Collection Showplace, also located in Novi. It will have 1,100 beds and construction is expected to be complete by April 20.
In West Michigan, both Grand Valley State University and Muskegon Community College have prepared to handle an overflow of patients from area hospitals.
In the state's update Thursday, April 9 officials recorded 1,158 new COVID-19 cases, making the total 21,504. There were 117 new deaths reproted, making the state's death toll 1,076.
STATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID-19
Patients with confirmed infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:
- If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
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MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
- MSU says hundreds of new health care grads available to help
- Michigan stay at home order extended until May 1
- West Michigan woman first in state to donate plasma after recovering from coronavirus
- Electric Forest Festival working to reschedule after Rothbury village council denies date change request
- White House says no 'surprise' bills for COVID-19 patients
- VIDEO: First critical care COVID-19 patient discharged from Grand Rapids hospital
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