Texas Gov. Abbott requests Fort Bliss Army hospital to house non-Covid patients

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking the federal government to use William Beaumont Army Medical Center as a way to help El Paso fight its recent record-breaking surge of coronavirus cases.

It comes after he was lobbied to do so by El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego.

Abbott asked that Beaumont Army hospital, on Fort Bliss, be used to house non-Covid patients to free up beds in the El Paso area for Covid patients.

Beaumont normally serves active-duty military, their families and veterans who have been referred by the Veterans Administration Department.

Abbott made the request in a phone call with Dr. Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary of preparedness and response with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Meantime, El Paso area hospitals will soon be sending non-Covid ICU patients to other cities, like Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.