The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York has been turned into a temporary hospital amidst the ongoing corona crisis. With sporting activities halted around the globe, many sporting venues are being used to aid medical efforts. A portion of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre has been turned into a 350-bed temporary hospital. While there has been no change to the schedule of the US Open expected to begin in November, it still remains to be seen whether the extent of the coronavirus damage in the US will bring about any change.
Speaking to the media, Chris Widmaier, spokesperson for the US Tennis Association (USTA) said that the conversion of an indoor facility would begin on Tuesday. The New York City Emergency Management had informed the USTA of its plan on Monday after previously telling the organization that the tennis center was a potential venue for auxiliary medical care.
The US has the highest number of conformed Corona cases in the world with almost a lakh and a half testing positive. With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing in the country, there has been a severe shortage of space for medical treatment. The venue at Flushing Meadows being turned to a temporary hospital comes shortly after the city of New York began constructing a temporary medical facility at Central Park.
