With anticipated rush in coronavirus cases requiring hospitalization, authorities are scrambling to setup field hospitals across the country, in places like Baltimore, Detroit, New York, and Seattle.
But hospitals in most areas of the country are at an all-time low occupancy rate. Elective surgeries have all been postponed. Patients and doctors alike are reluctant to visit any hospital, even the emergency room, in fear of catching the covid. Hospitals are furloughing staff, cancelling travel nurse contracts, and forcing the use of sick pay.
While a few small areas of our country erect field hospitals at enormous cost, most areas are laying off healthcare workers. At the same time, as airlines get a sixty billion dollar coronavirus bailout, planes sit idle by the thousands.
Here’s the thing: Visitors are completely prohibited in many covid-19 hotpots. Even if someone is sick, their relatives are not allowed to visit them.
Why not use the idle planes (which Uncle Sam is already compensating airlines and employees for) to transport overflow patients from overrun hospitals to other areas of the country (so some healthcare nurses can keep working)?
