This story has been updated to include new information from Renown.

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Renown Regional Medical Center is turning its Mill Street parking garage into hospital rooms ahead of an anticipated surge of COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks.

In a statement sent Friday, Renown said the space is being converted into an alternate care site ahead of a surge of patients expected in the next several weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are preparing for potential patient census increases, requiring a planning effort that challenges us to think outside of the box," the hospital said in a statement Friday. "Serving this level of hospital patients, which is called a 'surge' will challenge us to ensure we have the beds, procedure capacity and spaces that accommodate staff, technology, supplies, equipment and services to meet the needs of our patients."

In an interview with the Reno Gazette Journal, Renown spokeswoman Cassie Harris said she didn't have details about how much of the parking garage would be converted as part of the effort or how many beds would be housed there.

Renown said construction would begin soon and include flooring, electrical infrastructure, lighting, water, technology, wall partitions and hospital beds.

Alternate care sites in Washoe

Renown's effort to expand capacity is in addition to work by state and federal health officials to stand up an "alternate care site," potentially at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. That site, however, would be about 300 beds, significantly smaller than what Renown is planning.

The makeshift hospitals are part of the region's preparation for a "worst case scenario" surge of coronavirus patients.

In a call with local leaders Friday, Washoe Health Officer Kevin Dick said area hospitals are making significant progress in expanding the number of beds.

"All of the hospitals are working to expand their capacity and provide for more surge (beds)," Dick said. "We have some significant opportunity with Renown and their infrastructure. We're working to evaluate the opportunity there for establishing alternate care surge capacity as well as at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center."

Earlier this week, Dick said such sites could be used for non-acute care for patients recovering from the virus. Or, in a worst case scenario, could be used for hospice care to alleviate the suffering of those dying without access to limited medical care.

Siobhan McAndrew tells stories about the people of Northern Nevada and covers education in Washoe County. Read her journalism right here. Consider supporting her work by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal.