up land-based hospitals to focus on patients with COVID-19. But later half of the ship's 1000 beds were removed so that she could isolate and treat coronavirus patients. On 6 April 2020, COVID-19 patients were allowed onto the ship. One day later, the Navy announced that one crew member aboard Comfort had tested positive for the coronavirus and that several other crew members were put into isolation. On 17 April the U.S. Northern Command announced that "the USNS COMFORT is prepared to admit patients within a one-hour traveling radius from the ship", and preparations were made to receive coronavirus patients from the Philadelphia area. On 21 April, Governor Andrew Cuomo told President Donald Trump that the ship was no longer needed in New York. Comfort departed on 30 April, having treated 179 patients. Awards and decorations Combat Action Ribbon – (26 Feb 1991) Joint Meritorious Unit Award – (Apr 1991–Dec 1996) Operation Provide Comfort Navy Unit Commendation – (Aug 1990–Mar 1991, May–Jul 1994) Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation – (Sep 1994–Mar 1995, Sep 2001–Jun 2005, Jun–Oct 2007) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – (Sep–Oct 1994) Southwest Asia Service Medal – (Aug 1990–Mar 1991) Humanitarian Service Medal – (Sep–Oct 2001, Sep–Oct 2005, Jan–Feb 2010, Sep–Nov 2017) In 2008, the United Seamen's Service at its annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) event honored the masters and crews of hospital ships Comfort and Mercy with special Humanitarian Service Recognition Mariner's Plaques for their respective four-month humanitarian deployments to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2007 and Southeast Asia and the Pacific in 2008. General characteristics Specifications Displacement: Full Load: 69,390 Tons Light: 24,275 Tons Length: Overall: 894 Feet (272.6 Meters) Waterline: Feet (260.6 Meters) Beam: Feet (32.25 Meters) Draft: Feet (10.0 Meters) Propulsion: 1 Steam Turbine, 2 Boilers, 1 Shaft, Speed: 17.5 Knots Range: 13,400 Nautical Miles (24,817 Kilometers) at Personnel: Merchant Marine: 16 ROS; 61 Active Navy Communications & Support: 58 (6 Officers, 52 Enlisted) Medical and Dental (Active Only): 1,156 Aviation: Helicopter Landing Platform, 1 Spot Radars: SPS-67 Surface Search Patient capacity: Intensive care wards: 80 beds Recovery wards: 20 beds Intermediate care wards: 280 beds Light care wards: 120 beds Limited care wards: 500 beds Total Patient Capacity: 1000 beds Operating Rooms: 12 Departments and facilities: Casualty reception Intensive care unit Radiological services Main laboratory plus satellite lab Blood bank Central sterile receiving Medical supply/pharmacy Physical therapy and burn care