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Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration have been closely monitoring the recent rise in cases as they look to ensure that New York’s hospital system doesn’t get overwhelmed by an influx of patients.
“As we continue to see the number of COVID cases rise in New York and across the nation, it's critical that we not only remain tough and practice safe behaviors to limit the viral spread, but that we also do everything in our power to ensure hospitals are prepared to handle a growing number of patients," Cuomo said.
On Long Island, there are currently 747 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, the most in the state behind only New York City’s 1,476. Currently, that number represents 0.03 percent of the population, and there is still 18 percent of Long Island’s hospital beds available.
There are 589 COVID-19 patients in the ICU on Long Island, filling 75 percent of the region’s 804 beds.
“Let’s look at the big picture: we are looking at hospitalization capacity and if we don’t get the rate under control, and you are going to overwhelm your hospitals, we are going to have to go back to a shutdown,” Cuomo said this week.
“‘Oh we don’t want to do that again.’ Then change your behavior. But if we don’t change our behavior, that is the absolute reality of the situation.”
Cuomo said the state has 54,000 hospital beds, and if they increase capacity to the max, can reach 75,000. Currently, there are approximately 35,000 beds currently occupied, and 4,600 COVID-19 patients in New York hospitals.
According to the state Department of Health, there were 1,164 new COVID-19 cases reported in Suffolk, and 863 in Nassau.
"New York has instituted a number of measures to help prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed including a directive to expand capacity by 25 percent,” Cuomo said. “The good news is New York still maintains one of the nation's lowest infection rates, but everyone must do their part to slow the spread of the virus and stop the uptick in hospitalizations.
“If we work together and stay New York Tough, we can manage this pandemic until the vaccine is here.”
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