Members from the Montana National Guard will arrive on Wednesday in Billings to build a temporary medical facility at MetraPark Arena as a precaution to a potential patient overflow during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from KTVQ. Construction of the 90-bed facility is expected to be completed by April 28.
Th facility is designed to treat low acute, non-COVID-19 patients. Officials stated that Billings’ two hospitals, Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Health, have ample capacity, and the temporary site is not needed currently.
As of Tuesday, Yellowstone County has 73 COVID-19 cases with one death. Overall, the state of Montana has 437 cases and 12 deaths, with 273 people having recovered from the disease. Gov. Steve Bullock will announce a “phased reopening” of the state later this week.
MetraPark is already home to an isolation site for COVID-19 patients or those awaiting test results who are transient or come from an unsafe home situation.