200402-N-EV253-1049 NEW YORK (April 2, 2020) The patient transport team prepares to receive a patient aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) while the ship is moored in New York in support of the nation�s COVID-19 response efforts. Comfort serves as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore-based hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense's missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sara Eshleman/Released)