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Orange County Convention Center could become a field hospital for COVID-19 patients, Mayor Demings says

Updated  July 14, 2020 11:38pm EDT
Coronavirus
FOX 35 Orlando

Orange County Convention Center could be used for coronavirus patients

Mayor Jerry Demings says that this would only happen if the region's hospital beds reach capacity.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - The Orange County Convention Center could become a field hospital for coronavirus patients if hospitals in Central Florida reach capacity, officials said.

During a COVID-19 briefing on Monday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said that if the hospitals in the county reach capacity, they could use the convention center for coronavirus patients.

"If we would need to do that, that would only happen if we exceed here, in the region, hospital bed capacity," he said. "If we are chosen, the convention center would be a site for as many as 500 beds for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Lake counties."

MORE NEWS: Florida has largest single-day jump in COVID-19 deaths yet, with 132 more reported

County leaders will meet on Tuesday to figure out how to make businesses comply with the mask mandate.

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