BREMERTON — In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kitsap County just happens to be close to opening a new hospital.

CHI Franciscan Health says construction will continue on its Silverdale campus throughout the year, and when completed, it will have a total of 262 beds. But how does the county stack up with others when it comes to bed space? Here are five things to know about Kitsap's hospital capacity, and whether we're ready for the biggest demand COVID-19 could bring.

1. How many hospital beds are in Kitsap?

Kitsap County has 0.86 hospital beds per 1,000 people; nationally, there are 2.2 beds per thousand, according to the Urban Institute, a think tank. The opening of a new Harrison campus will maintain that capacity. Currently, there are:

242 beds at Harrison's Bremerton campus

94 beds at Harrison's Silverdale campus

23 beds at Naval Hospital Bremerton

Kitsap County is also preparing to open two isolation and quarantine centers for those who live with vulnerable roommates and others who are unable to isolate themselves if they become sick or are awaiting test results.

2. Do we have enough beds to get through the pandemic?

Whether it is enough for the expected hospital stays necessary through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is unclear, though experts believe the state will have enough space, thanks to social-distancing efforts.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that on April 19 — the date it projects the state will be at the high point for cases — Washington won't need all the 4,907 hospital beds available. But the institute is forecasting a 26-bed shortage for ICU beds.

CHI Franciscan maintains 20 ICU beds in Kitsap, a spokeswoman confirmed.

3. Could Harrison's new Silverdale campus open early to help with COVID-19?

No. The $500 million, 500,000-square-foot hospital's first phase, a nine-story tower, is due to open by the end of 2020, but not before. Construction is continuing throughout the pandemic, according to Matt Wheelus, Harrison's chief operating officer.

Once opened, Silverdale's campus will have 262 beds and all patients will move from the Bremerton location.

4. Could Bremerton's Harrison campus remain operational if the COVID-19 pandemic continues?

It's possible, Wheelus said. No decisions have been made.

"As Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread we will work with the Department of Health and Kitsap Public Health to consider all options on how best to utilize the Bremerton campus when the Silverdale location is ready for occupation later this year, and if and when the acuteness of the pandemic requires additional hospital beds," he said.

5. What's the capacity of the Naval Hospital Bremerton?

Naval Hospital Bremerton, located off Austin Drive, has 23 beds. None of its beds are ICU beds.

Its 1,400 staff members are all engaged in the fight against COVID-19 "to some degree," according to hospital spokesman Douglas Stutz.

Its personnel are a "ready medical force," however, and the 150 nurses and approximately 100 doctors could be called elsewhere to serve, he noted. For instance, 20 of Naval Hospital's personnel have joined the USNS Mercy hospital ship in Los Angeles, Stutz said.

On April 1, the hospital postponed inpatient services "due to operational deployments in support of COVID-19," Stutz said.

But, "if inpatient services are needed, we will continue to work with our community partners for patient care," he said.

This story has been updated with the correct title of Harrison's chief operating officer, Matt Wheelus. The article also incorrectly stated the increase in capacity in hospital beds for CHI Franciscan in Kitsap. The total number of beds, through the transition to the new campus in Silverdale, will remain the same at 336.

Josh Farley has been a reporter with the Kitsap Sun since 2005. You can reach him at josh.farley@kitsapsun.com.