Governor Kemp Visits Phoebe

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

Phoebe hosted Gov. Brian Kemp Tuesday morning for a tour of the modular COVID-19 unit the state constructed on the Phoebe North campus.  The Governor thanked the Phoebe Family for their response to the COVID-19 crisis.  “These are today’s heroes, and I know Georgians appreciate that.  I know that I do.  My wife Marty and my family does as well because we know how hard this has been on everybody, no matter what part of the state you’re in, and it’s certainly been harder than most right here in Albany and southwest Georgia,” Gov. Kemp said.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) oversaw the project to build the 24-bed modular hospital at Phoebe North as part of the state’s effort to increase capacity to care for COVID-19 patients.  The shipping containers used to construct the facility were delivered on April 15, and the unit will be ready to accept patients on May 6.

“It’s amazing how quickly this project came together.  When you’re inside the facility, you have no idea that it’s not a typical hospital.  We appreciate the state’s support throughout our COVID-19 response, particularly their assistance with staffing increases that will allow us to bring this facility online.  We are proud to partner with Gov. Kemp and state agencies, not only on this modular hospital project, but with other efforts to expand our region’s COVID-19 treatment capabilities,” said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Executive Officer.