Warren joins calls for Trump to mobilize Army Corp of Engineers

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is calling on President Trump to mobilize the Army Corp of Engineers to create new medical facilities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. 

"The Army Corps is in position to help address this public health emergency by converting existing space into temporary medical centers," Warren said in a letter to Trump released on Wednesday. "Taking this action will save lives."

"Given the reality of the exponential growth of the virus, supplemental infrastructure must be designated and ready to receive patients immediately," Warren added.

As of Wednesday morning, over 6,500 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., though several lawmakers have raised concerns that the count might be much higher due to lack of testing. So far, 115 people have died due to the disease in the U.S.

Trump said on Tuesday that the Army Corps of Engineers is "ready, willing and able" to deploy if needed, and the administration is considering using it in areas that have been the hardest hit by the virus. 

Vice President Pence, meanwhile, said on the same day that the administration would consider requests from governors to quickly deploy "field hospitals" or use the Army Corps of Engineers to convert existing facilities. 

On Sunday New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) also called on the Trump administration to use the Army Corp of Engineers to create hospitals in a New York Times op-ed.

The push comes as public health officials warn that as the pandemic grows, it could overwhelm the health-care system, as it has in Italy and China.