NW Houston News

The outbreak of COVID-19 has required that communities across the nation rethink their approach to its use of medical care facilities, and such is the case with Shady Acres’ former hospital Kindred Hospital. 

According to The Leader News, the City of Houston announced that the former Kindred Hospital may needed for the treatment of individuals who contracted COVID-19. 

Kindred Hospital, which was closed this year, is located at 1800 W. 26th St.

Mayor Sylvester Turner toured the facility and said it might be useful for the city or county in support of the regional hospital's bed capacity. Specific uses could include quarantining first responders, city employees or members of the homeless community. 

While a deal had not been made, Turner said the owner of the property was willing to make the space available if needed. 

“It’s a facility that’s now available,” Turner said. “We wanted to get an opportunity to tour it just in case we need to expand our hospital bed capacity or, quite frankly, to be used for any other necessity we may have.”

Turner said that if the space is needed, the only action that would have to be taken would be to install the necessary hospital equipment. While negotiations are not yet underway for the use of Kindred Hospital’s space, the virus continues to spread rapidly. 

As of April 5, Texas reported 6,812 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 127 deaths. Harris County leads the state with 1,284 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The entirety of Harris County is under a stay-at-home order, which only permits residents to leave the house if for essential business — grocery shopping, medical care or essential items — and exercise outdoors. 

“It’s not going to be a one-week-and-done (situation) or a two-week-and-done,” Turner said. “We’ve got to be very patient. The virus will dictate the schedule. We will not dictate the schedule.”