Kane County Reporter

Two closed hospitals will be reopened to help combat the coronavirus in the state of Illinois which will add to the hospital bed capacity at the convention center and McCormick Place which have 3,500 hospital beds.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said McCormick Place's 500 beds are ready to use and the convention center will be ready by the end of April, according to the Northwest Herald. The former Advocate Sherman Hospital campus in Elgin and MetroSouth Health Center in Blue Island will also reopen to help treat patients with COVID-19. 

“If we never have to go beyond our existing facilities, we will all be extremely happy,” Pritzker said, as reported by the Northwest Herald. “Since we can’t guarantee that, and, in fact, we don’t have the data yet to suggest otherwise, we’re actively building out capacity.”

Reopening the two former hospitals won't be replacing the current health facilities but will supply additional space if needed. Not only is the state preparing more facilities for a surge, but Pritzker said Illinois is also preparing needed equipment. 

The state is acquiring protective gear on its own and receiving shipments from the federal government, according to the Northwest Herald. 

Illinois received a shipment of 5.5. million N95 masks and 5.5. million surgical masks from the White House.

Illinois also has a stockpile of protective equipment such as N95 masks, surgical masks, gowns, gloves, goggles and face shields. The state has already sent supply shipments to 155 hospitals throughout Illinois and 96 local health departments. 

While the state gathers needed materials, the Illinois National Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are working on the former facilities to have them ready for use. 

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Illinois as well as the number of individuals dying due to the virus.