Some may say “we have to be prepared, and there is the cost.” Some may say “we overreacted.”
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionals feared the lack of enough beds. TCF Bank Center in Detroit quickly turned their space into a field hospital. At the end of last week, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that the 1,000-bed TCF Center field hospital is no longer caring for patients and is "officially closed down," according to The Detroit News. The center ended up treating a total of 39 patients from the time it opened. In just over one week, the convention center transformed into a medical facility with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi has also turned into a medical facility during this pandemic.
The state paid nearly $8.2 million each (over $16 million total) for a six-month lease at both convention centers. The cost to build out the TCF Center was $9.4 million, which does not cover the expense to operate the center. The cost for the Novi facility has not been detailed.
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