After completing an assessment, the Army Corps of Engineers submitted the Ellwood City Medical Center to PEMA for consideration to reopen due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nationwide the corps has been implementing the Alternate Care Facility Conversion mission, converting hotels, college dormitories and other facilities into “ICU-like” hospital rooms to help with the increasing number of patients needing treatment from the coronavirus. This program has extended to closed hospitals.

The Ellwood City hospital closed its emergency department in December 2019 and months later the parent company shut down the hospital and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Ellwood City borough manager David Allen said the corps completed its assessment Tuesday and forwarded that assessment to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

“Within the next week or so, we expect PEMA and the Department of Health to make a decision,” Allen said.

Allen was joined by Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court and state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, in announcing the consideration in a phone news conference Wednesday. Representatives from the corps were expected to be on the call but were unable to attend.

This is a breaking news article — check back later to read more or read the full article in Thursday's Butler Eagle.