Covid-19: Here's Where Hudson Valley Ranks For Available Hospital Beds In New State Data

The Hudson Valley continues to increase its hospital bed capacity amid the second wave of COVID-19 infections, but still has seen the number of patients being treated for the virus continuing to increase.

Cuomo cautioned that hospitals could be overwhelmed due to the holiday season.
Photo Credit: *ny.gov*

Rules for hospitals in New York during the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Photo Credit: *ny.gov*

Zak Failla

12/25/2020 7:30 a.m.

In the latest update from the state Department of Health, there are now 776 people hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday, Dec. 22, up from 722 patients late last week.

The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 represents 0.03 percent of region's population, and there is currently 34 percent of the region’s hospital beds available, one of the more favorable numbers in the state.

The percentage of hospital beds available, by region, according to the state Department of Health:

North Country: 50 percent;
Southern Tier: 44 percent;
Hudson Valley: 34 percent;
Finger Lakes: 33 percent;
Mohawk Valley: 31 percent;
Western New York: 30 percent;
New York City: 29 percent;
Central New York: 27 percent;
Long Island: 25 percent;
Capital Region: 25 percent.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously said that any region that is in danger of reaching 90 percent hospital capacity within three weeks will be designated as a “red zone” and there will be an economic shutdown of all non-essential businesses.

In the Hudson Valley, 422 of the region’s 713 ICU beds are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients, leaving 2542percent still available, in case of emergency, also among the fewest in the state.

In response to the rise in cases across the state, Cuomo instructed all hospitals to increase their capacity, either by creating new beds, or by temporarily eliminating elective surgeries as the state works to implement its COVID-19 vaccination plan.

“It's the most ambitious governmental operation that has been undertaken, period,” Cuomo said about the vaccination plan. “We have been planning for the vaccine, now we're implementing that plan and we're ensuring New Yorkers can access the vaccine free of charge.

“New Yorkers always set the bar high and with what we went through in the spring, I want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to be the first state to kill this beast - so please, wear a mask, wash your hands and continue to socially distance.”

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