In a sign that the coronavirus pandemic has eased up in Los Angeles, the U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy is preparing to leave the Port of L.A. and head back to San Diego, according to Navy officials.

The ship, which is scheduled to depart on Friday, arrived in late March to relieve the area’s packed hospitals by providing space for the treatment of non-coronavirus sufferers. At least 77 patients have been treated aboard the vessel since it arrived, officials say.

“Our work to protect public health and safety is far from done, but having the Mercy and its highly-trained medical personnel stationed in the most populous region of the state was critical to our ability to respond in the first stages of the pandemic, says California health official Mark Ghilarducci. “We thank our colleagues in the U.S. Navy, FEMA and the federal administration for their support in allowing us to use the Mercy.”

Source: https://abc7.com/6183551/