Fresno Fairgrounds will be site of makeshift hospital with 250 beds to treat coronavirus

The Fresno Fairgrounds will soon double as a makeshift hospital to treat coronavirus patients in Fresno County.

Two hundred and fifty beds are on their way to Fresno from the federal government. Fresno is one of eight cities around the state receiving reinforcements, according to Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig.

Besides the beds, Magsig said the county is expecting IV stands and personal protective equipment, like gloves and masks. Fresno picked the fairgrounds for the field hospital because the property is owned by the county, located close to other medical services and has easy access for trucks.

Who will staff those beds and when the supplies will arrive is unknown.

“I’m not sure when they will arrive,” Magsig said. “Once it arrives, the county will have another announcement about how it’s going to be staffed.”

Lauri King, deputy manager of The Big Fresno Fair, said county staff have taken over the grounds. They are onsite setting up phone lines and internet, and will choose which of the nine large buildings on the 165-acre grounds will house the medical equipment.

“We firmly believe that if everyone does their part and participates in shelter in place, we can flatten the curve and be in a different situation later this year,” she said. “As of right now, we’re planning to hold The Big Fresno Fair,” scheduled for Oct. 7-18.

One new coronavirus case was reported in Fresno County on Wednesday, bringing the county’s total to 19.

Rais Vohra, interim health officer of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, said Fresno runs the risk of becoming a hot spot for the new coronavirus. That could mean deaths in Fresno County if the health care system gets overrun.

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 12:48 PM.