NEW YORK (WKBW) — In a press conference Sunday New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a mandate for New York State hospitals to increase bed capacity by at least 50 percent with the goal of a 100 percent increase.
Cuomo says this is in an effort to reach a goal of 53,000 to 110,000 hospital beds statewide.
Kaleida Health announced Saturday it would increase its bed capacity by 50 percent to help fight the ongoing crisis.
As of Sunday the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide is 15,168. 1,974 out of the total number of confirmed cases are hospitalized, a 13 percent rate.
61,401 tests have been conducted statewide.
The state says all elective surgeries will be canceled effective Wednesday, March 25th.
Cuomo also announced Sunday he is requesting the Federal Government have the Army Corps construct temporary hospitals at: Stonybrook, Westbury, Westchester, and Javits.
He is also asking FEMA to construct four federal hospitals at Javits Center that would house 250 beds each, and would be fully staffed and supplied.
