The Austin Convention Center opened as a field hospital to patients for the first time Tuesday morning as area hospitals move closer to exceeding capacity due to a rise in coronavirus cases. The site will take patients from 11 Central Texas counties who are transferred from hospitals and are determined to need lesser medical care. Patients with high-level care needs, including intensive care, will remain at hospitals. The facility has 25 beds and can expand to more beds if needed. Staffing for the alternate care site will be handled by private doctors and medical staff. Austin Public Health announced the opening of the site during a morning briefing with city council members. Over the weekend, the city and Travis County revealed they were working to get the convention center prepared to accept patients. The site is in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council.