The USNS Mercy was deployed at the Port of Los Angeles from March 27 to May 15, 2020. The Naval hospital ship served as a referral hospital for patients not infected with COVID-19, which allowed local hospitals to focus on the treatment of coronavirus patients. After seven weeks in L.A., the USNS Mercy returned to its homeport in San Diego and City of Los Angeles officials praised her crew and frontline staff for boosting the city’s preparedness combating the COVID-19 pandemic.