>> it's a constant ache. >> reporter: sue o'brien is a new york physical therapist with two young girls. she's not been able to visit her husband ted who has been isolated and on a ventilator since he was hospitalized less than two weeks ago. >> so i'm living moment to moment, wondering if i'm going to get a phone call that they can't save him. >> reporter: this operation is going to be staffed by about 60 to 70 doctors and nurses. they'll begin taking patients as early as today. meanwhile, across the country in southern california, another 1,000-bed u.s. naval ship hospital, the "mercy" is taking its first patients to free up space in l.a.-area hospitals that have seen around 2,500 coronavirus cases. anthony? >> mola lenghi in central park, thanks, molea. >>> well over half of americans are being told not to go out to slow the spread of the coronavirus. stay at home orders or directives are in effect in 32 states and washington, d.c.