Gov. Baker exploring options with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Gov. Baker exploring options with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

"Based on our conversations today with the Corps, we got a sense for the kind of work that they can do here in the commonwealth and identified, along with several other folks including people from the private sector, facilities that could possibly be either converted or modified to provide additional medical care capacity as we ramp-up to deal with this virus," Baker said.

EFFORTS TO OPEN EMERGENCYCHILDCARE CENTERS.WE HAD A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONWITH THE U.S. ARMY ABOUT WAYSTHEY COULD SUPPORT THECOMMONWEALTH AND I CITIZENSDURING THIS OUTBREAK.AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, THE ARMYCORPS HAS EXPERTISE IN DESIGNINGAND BUILDING CRITICALINFRASTRUCTURE IN A HURRY INTIMES OF NEED.BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONSTODAY, WE GOT A SENSE FOR THEKIND OF WORK THEY CAN DO IN THECOMMONWEALTH AND IDENTIFIED,ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS,INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM THEPRIVATE SECTOR, FACILITIES THATCOUL BE CONVERTED OR MODIFIEDTO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEDICCARE CAPACITY AS WE RAMP UP TODEAL WITH THIS VIRUS.OUR COMMAND CENTER, AND MYSECRETARY HAS BEEN INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE HOSPITALCOMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND ANDASSESS THE NEEDS ANDEXPECTATIONS AND TO PLAN AROUNDCAPACITY FOR MANAGING COVID-19CARE WITH OUR EXISTING CAPACITYAN ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES.THE COMMAND CENTER IS WORKINGWITH THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY ONTHE PLANS THEY ARE PURSUING TODEVELOP CAPACITY.TODAY’S CONVERSATION BUILT ONTHIS EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND WHATTYPE OF STRUCTURES MAY BENECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATEMASSACHUSETTS AND HOW THE STATECAN CONTRIBUTE TO A QUICKRESPONSE.WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OFPOSSIBLE SITES, WHICH WE WANT TOWO WITH THE FOLKS IN THEHEALTH CARE COMMUNITY TO PURSUEFURTHER AND WE HAVE DISCUSSEDSEVERAL LOGI