NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York could hit “PAUSE” again if the state hits “a real hospitalization crisis,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Monday, as the number of residents hospitalized with COVID-19 continued to climb.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state have increased “dramatically” in recent months, from 891 on June 29 to 3,532 on Sunday, Cuomo said at a news briefing. Hospitals, meanwhile, are “already experiencing staffing shortages,” he said.
As a result, the state has initiated a number of “emergency hospital procedures,” including recruiting retired nurses and doctors to help treat COVID-19 patients; directing hospitals to increase capacity by 50 percent; and drafting plans for emergency field hospitals, he said.
We are laser-focused on ensuring enough hospital capacity as COVID surges.
Today @HealthNYGov is initiating emergency hospital measures.
Hospitals are directed to identify retired staff, make plans to add 50% bed capacity, confirm they have a 90-day PPE stockpile, and more. pic.twitter.com/6XzF4jXFxY
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 30, 2020
https://www.radio.com/1010wins/news/state/cuomo-orders-hospitals-to-up-capacity-warns-of-new-pause