COVID-19: Convention center turns into a temporary hospital in Mexico City

Mexico City

’s government will deploy staff at the Temporary COVID-19 Unit that will be installed by private companies at the Citibanamex Center , a convention center , as part of a government strategy to halt the spread of coronavirus .

mayor Claudia Sheinbaum explained the local government was collaborating with private organizations to open the t emporary unit to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus . The local Health Ministry and health institutes are also involved in the project.

The National Autonomous University ( UNAM ), Mexico’s most prestigious university, will be in charge of making technical and medical decisions inside the temporary hospital .

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Once the temporary hospital is ready, Mexico City’s Health Ministry will lead, operate, provide medical attention, and determine which patients will be interned at the facility.

The temporary unit will have 854 beds available for patients who need oxygen therapy , intermediate care , as well as a laboratory . The facility will also transport patients to other hospitals with intensive care units .

The project is receiving funding from 16 companies and foundations, which have invested MXN $700 million in the planning, construction, and implementation of the temporary hospital.

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According to Germán Fajardo Dolci , the head of the UNAM’s Medicine School , the university and its team were able to build the temporary hospital in 21 days.

In an interview, Dr. Fajardo said the Medicine School will be in charge of the logistics and management of the facilities. Meanwhile, doctors from Mexico City’s Health Ministry will treat the patients.

In recent weeks, authorities turned the convention center into a temporary hospital following international guidelines , especially in regards to ventilators . Moreover, there are medical gases and hydro-sanitary installations available at the facility. The operation was monitored by the Cofepris .

On April 26, Mexico City’s Health Ministry announced was officially inaugurated and will start treating patients on April 28 .

On April 29 , Mexico City’s Health Ministry announced the first COVID-19 patient had been welcomed to the temporary hospital .

The patient , who was first treated at the National Nutrition Institute, was taken to the temporary hospital last night.

Today, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the hospital is now welcoming patients from other hospitals.

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