Governor Andrew Cuomo says the top priority in New York right now is to prepare the health care system for a flood of patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
Cuomo says data from China and Italy suggest that New York is about 45 days away from the peak of the COVID-19 infection rate.
That means as many as 110,000 New Yorkers might need hospitalization. The current hospital capacity is about half that.
“It’s clear we can’t manage that flow. How can you reduce the flow? You reduce the spread. How do you reduce the spread? You close down more interaction among people.”
Cuomo says more closures of public spaces could be announced.
The state will work with FEMA, the National Guard, and the construction unions to quickly build temporary hospital facilities.
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