New York City has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. And in the city's time of need, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan's far West Side, has opened its doors, not to trade show attendees, but to overflow patients from local hospitals. Working with the Army Corps. of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the New York Department of Health, the Javits Center has transformed Hall 3E into a temporary medical facility with 1,000 patient beds – and it was accomplished in less than one week. The convention center is also prepared to add 1,500 additional beds if the need presents itself. Initially, the plan was for Javits to host non-COVID-19 patients. But prior to opening, it was determined that the temporary medical facility would serve COVID-19 patients who require comparably less medical care than others.

"To be honest, our staff has been honored to step up," said Tony Sclafani, senior vice president and chief communication officer at Javits. "This is an unprecedented crisis, and we hope our customers will continue to support us now and in the future." However, it's not the first time the Javits Center has performed in a nontraditional role. Following 9/11, the convention center served as a critical staging area for first responders as well. Sclafani also noted that the leadership, support, and coordination by Governor Andrew Cuomo has been critical in helping the convention center make its transition. After touring the completed hospital, Governor Cuomo said, "This is an amazing accomplishment. It's transformative in just one week. The Javits Center looks entirely different, and this is a place that's literally going to save lives."