Banner Health sends 10 Phoenix-based nurses to Colorado to help fight COVID-19

Banner Health sent 10 nurses from its Phoenix-area hospitals to its hardest-hit Colorado hospital on Sunday.

In response to the growing outbreak of the new coronavirus, Banner Health flew 10 nurses to serve a two-week assignment in Greeley, Colorado, at the North Colorado Medical Center, Banner Health said in a press release.

The nurses flew out on a private jet, covered by a donation from Phoenix-based Swift Transportation's CEO and founder Jerry Moyes, the press release said.

"When I heard what they are doing, what they are going through — the sacrifice — it made it pretty easy for us to volunteer and make it much easier for them to fly up private," Moyes said in an interview provided by Banner Health.

Lindsey Stewart, a Banner Health registered nurse, is one of the 10 nurses going to Colorado. In an interview provided by Banner Health she said that she had already been asking if there was anywhere she could be sent to help.

"My manager, Erin, texted and said, 'Hey, we got the go ahead. I need you to do a few things.' At that moment, it was like, 'Wow, this is so surreal.' I didn’t hesitate. I want to help. I mean, you sign up to be a nurse to do stuff like this," Stewart said.

Stewart urged nurses who aren't currently working in the medical field but want to help to reach out to travel agencies and medical facilities to help find them a place to work.

Colorado has more than double the amount of identified cases as Arizona as of Sunday, with Greeley, along with Fort Collins and Loveland, all currently dealing with cases, according to the press release.

Reach the reporter James Carr at James.Carr@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @JamestheCarr