Dane County could get COVID-19 surge facility

Plans are underway for a second field hospital in the state at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison to treat COVID-19 patients if area health systems become overwhelmed.

An application was filed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Gov. Tony Evers said Sunday. The Army Corps of Engineers would build out the alternative care facility.

Construction is already underway for a surge facility at the Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis.

“Hopefully this second site will not be needed, but we must prepare for it now so we are ready,” Evers said Sunday.

He said that additional details – including facility operations, acuity level and patient capacity – will be shared when they become available.

Meanwhile, work continues on the facility in West Allis. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $10 million contract to build the facility last week. The completion date is April 24, according to a federal notice.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett tweeted a photo of the patient spaces on Monday. He said last week the facility may be able to serve more than 700 patients if needed.

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