The Medical Relief Center in the South Hall of the L.A. Convention Center is prepared to start accepting patients as needed.

As of mid-April, L.A.’s hospitals have been able to manage patient volume –– a sign that Angelenos’ efforts to stay home and practice physical distancing are helping to slow the spread of the virus.

But in the event that we do see a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Medical Relief Center is ready to absorb patients from hospitals.

The Center is opening with an initial 175 beds for patients who are COVID-negative. If the need arises, we are ready to both expand the number of available beds, and shift to absorb patients who are COVID-positive in other areas of the Convention Center.

Partners in the Medical Relief Center include Cal OES and CAL FIRE, which helped secure a Federal Medical Station and are providing important services; the California National Guard, which helped deliver and set up the station; LAFD, which led the build out and logistics; SmithGroup architecture firm, which provided renderings of the space pro bono; and the County, which offered crucial guidance along the way.