TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa General Hospital is looking to create a permanent COVID-19 unit at a repurposed stand-alone building.
The hospital says it will cost $8.2 million to complete. Once finished, the dedicated unit will have 59 fully-equipped ICU beds and up to 45 surge readiness beds for those affected by COVID-19 in Hillsborough County, the hospital wrote in a proposal.
To help with the cost, the hospital is asking Hillsborough County leaders for matching funds of up to $4.5 million from the CARES Act as part of a three-year contract. The county commission is expected to hear this request Wednesday.
In its proposal to the county, Tampa General says it has agreed to provide up to 500 COVID-19 tests for Hillsborough County employees and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office employees if they choose to participate in a testing program. The hospital will also purchase two mobile COVID-19 testing units. The hospital says it will also allow the COVID-19 unit to serve as an alternate care site during declared states of emergency.
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