Crowne Plaza near Indy airport being used as COVID-19 treatment site

State health officials have begun using the Crowne Plaza hotel near the Indianapolis International Airport as a treatment site for people with COVID-19.

The hotel, 2501 S. High School Road, is owned and operated by Indianapolis-based General Hotels Corp. A representative for the company referred all questions to the state’s Joint Information Center, which confirmed Monday afternoon that the hotel is being used for patient overflow.

“The state has said it will develop multiple sites to aid in the response to the surge in COVID-19 cases,” the Joint Information Center said in emailed remarks. “Crowne Plaza is one of those sites.”

Fox 59 reported the use of the hotel as overflow site on Friday, including that the facility is being used for the city’s homeless population infected with the virus.

The effort is being led by the Indiana State Department of Health. However, state officials declined to provide details on specifically how the hotel is being used—including whether it is a treatment site for homeless individuals—“in order to protect the integrity of operations and due to patient privacy.”

On Monday, a sign on the hotel’s main entrance indicated the property was closed to the public.

“The hotel is fully occupied with a long-term group. Public building access is prohibited during this time,” the sign said. “We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to an opportunity to be of service in the future. Thank you!”

The Joint Information Center said it is continuing to evaluate additional sites for overflow coronavirus patients.