The grounds outside Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro were turned into a temporary hospital. The medical facility opened Saturday will only treat serious coronavirus patients. There are two hospital wings set up, including the ICU which will have 170 beds

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Famous Brazilian stadium is transformed into COVID-19 hospital

By Agency Reporter On May 11, 2020 0

The grounds outside a popular soccer stadium in Brazil have been converted into a hospital that will be treating Rio de Janeiro’s most serious coronavirus patients.

The medical facility outside Maracaña Stadium finally opened up Saturday, nine days past its deadline and welcomed 10 COVID-19 patients.

The temporary hospital was built in 38 days and will be fitted with 400 beds in its two wards, including an intensive care unit.

Rio de Janeiro state health officials inaugurated Saturday a tent hospital outside Maracaña Stadium to treat coronavirus patients. The temporary facility will have 400 beds

According to the State Health Secretariat, 170 beds were already in place as of Saturday, including 50 for coronavirus patients who will received ICU care.

The rest of the beds, including 160 in ICU, are slated to arrive this Friday.

The global pandemic has severely impacted Brazil, the worst-hit country in Latin America, with 11,207 deaths and 163,510 confirmed cases as of Monday. Brazil reported its first COVID-19 case February 25.

A look inside a hospital that was built in 38 days outside Rio de Janeiro’s Maracaña Stadium, which hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies

The state of Rio de Janeiro is the second-worst hit in the South American nation with 1,503 deaths and 15,741 confirmed patients. The state is currently in a lockdown, which is expected to be lifted May 31.

Governor Wilson Witzel called for nine temporary hospitals to be constructed as its hospital system faced a surging amount of patients hospitalized due to the deadly viral bug.

The field hospital set up on the grounds of Maracaña Stadium will care for the most serious coronavirus patients

According to Brazilian news outlet Veja, the facility outside Maracaña Stadium is outfitted with two computed tomography equipment and ultrasound, portable X-ray and hemodialysis equipment. Sickened patients will also have access to a computer to communicate with their family members via video conference.

‘Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state government has been working to increase the capacity of the state network to serve the population with dignity,’ Witzel said.

‘Field hospitals will be instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 and will help to unburden our health system. It is also very important to have the support of the private sector.’

The Rio de Janeiro state government is planning on opening up two more temporary hospitals by next week and is seeking doctors and other medical professionals from other states to work in the field facilities to treat coronavirus patients.

Rio de Janeiro is seeking to hire health professionals from states in Brazil as well as countries that are no longer severely impacted with coronavirus cases

Governor Witzel is also working with the country’s Ministry of Health to hire health workers from China and other countries that are no longer severely affected by the epidemic.

Maracaña Stadium hosted 2014 FIFA World Cup final and 2016 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium, which seats 78,000, also was home to 1950 soccer World Cup, which was won by Brazil.