Boston Convention and Exhibition Center Facility to Remain Intact for Potential Use if Second Wave Arrives
Mass General Brigham in conjunction with Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker announced that effective immediately, Boston Hope will suspend the acceptance of new admissions. The facility will remain open and staff in place until all existing patients are safely discharged. Boston Hope, which brought together state and city officials, Mass General Brigham, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, and countless others served more than 700 COVID-19 patients. The 1,000 beds in the facility will remain in place over the summer to be available if another COVID surge materializes.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to Governor Baker, Mayor Walsh and their teams for the opportunity to bring our clinical skills to serve the patients who were admitted to Boston Hope,” said Anne Klibanski, MD, President and CEO of Mass General Brigham. “The enduring legacy of Boston Hope will be one of partnership and collaboration to meet the needs of our region during this crisis. The work of the men and women at Boston Hope these past six weeks was heroic. We were fortunate to have the people and the commitment available to stand up this 1,000-bed facility, which served so many from throughout the city and across the region. But, we were even more fortunate that we were never confronted with the need to use all of those beds.”
“Boston Hope was stood up through an incredible team effort to provide health care capacity for our residents in need during the fight against Covid-19,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am grateful to Mayor Walsh, Dr. Anne Klibanski and the Mass General Brigham team and Boston Health Care for the Homeless for stepping up to make these resources available.”
“The Boston Hope Medical Center has been an integral part of the City's response to the coronavirus, and represents our commitment from the very beginning of prioritizing care for our most vulnerable residents," said Mayor Walsh. "I am so proud of every person who played a part in bringing Boston Hope to life in five short days, and to the nurses, doctors and partner organizations who provided the best possible care to patients, and who undoubtedly helped save lives."
The 1,000-bed facility will remain in place over the summer. In the event that the Governor, Mayor and public health experts see evidence of a second wave of COVID, Boston Hope will remain available to reopen.
Rich Copp
Phone: 617-278-1031