SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, exhausted medical workers are now turning to local hotels, as they try to keeping their families safe.
While more and more local hotels shut down from loss of business, the doors of The Lodge at Torrey Pines remains open.
"In times of war and trouble, a hotel is a resource for society, so we decided to keep all three of our hotels open," said Bill Evans, co-owner of Evans Hotels.
He says they are open and ready to help those on the frontlines.
"We're working with a lot of hospitals, but The Lodge at Torrey Pines is so close to the majority of UCSD medical facilities," said Evans.
Evans says he recently started offering up rooms at cost - discounted more than 50% - for all medical workers, at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and his two other hotels, the Bahia and Catamaran Resort Hotels, along Mission Bay. In some cases, the hospitals are covering the rooms.
"The medical workers want to be in this fight as long as they can and a hotel allows them to be isolated," said Evans.
Evans say the medical personnel are hoping to stay healthy and keep their own families healthy by staying away. Each hotel room is cleaned frequently.
"Strict protocol insisted on by the hospitals we are hospital clean," said Evans.
On any given day, hundreds of medical workers are staying at the hotels.
"Some people are coming in twice. They come in for two hours. They go out for 20, and then they come back for two. The medical professionals, just amazing how hard they're working," said Evans.
Evans believes in the days ahead - as the coronavirus cases are expected to surge - the hotel stays are part of the medical workers' preparations.
"I see it in their eyes. We're going to be tested. We're getting ready for the storm that's coming," said Evans.
Evans says all medical workers qualify for the discount. They're being asked to present ID at the front desk.
