Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Dane Chambers of Fort Lauderdale is among the service members helping the public aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Dane Chambers, from Fort Lauderdale organizes a medical supply drawer in a ward aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden)

The Mercy deployed from San Diego to Los Angeles in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, a Navy press release said. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases.

Unfortunately, Naval health officials are fighting an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Mercy with seven cases among crew members, a Navy official told the San Diego Union-Tribune Monday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom previously announced plans to move senior citizens from nursing homes to the ship to isolate them from the virus.