MURRAY, Utah — The first COVID-19 response team from Intermountain Healthcare left For New York City Tuesday morning.
They will help treat the sick at hospitals hit hard by the virus.
They have a range of emotions as they embark on this important journey.
These 50 caregivers from Intermountain boarded their flight - excited and nervous and ready to serve.
These volunteers are highly skilled and include physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists.
They’ll be stationed at Northwell Health in Queens.
Nearly 11-thousand people have died in New York from COVID-19.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says 1,600 new people were admitted into hospitals - so help from these Utah healthcare professionals comes at a crucial time.
"They’ll be at the heart of the epicenter of the covert outbreak," Dr. Paul krakovitz said. "They understand the responsibility that they are going into and they know the task that is in front of them. But this is what they do."
Dr. Krakovitz says the mission will benefit both sides.
Utah’s surge is expected to surface in May, and caregivers in New York have vowed to return the favor and travel to Utah to help with patients here.
The second Intermountain response team is expected to leave for New York on Thursday and will be assigned to Presbyterian Hospital.