There are nearly 21-thousand confirmed coronavirus cases in New York State. More than 12-thousand are in New York City as of Monday afternoon. The state has ramped up testing even more with roughly 16 thousand people getting checked for COVID 19 every day.
Governor Cuomo is ordering hospitals to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent to make room for coronavirus patients.
“Mandatory directive from the state. Find more beds. Use more rooms.”
Cuomo says the state was able to get a hold of more hospital masks, gowns and gloves and they are being sent to areas of need. However, he stresses New York is still in need of ventilators and ICU beds. Governor Cuomo is offering some hope for those seriously sick. He says the federal government has approved New York’s use of an experimental drug on patients with the virus.
“It’s a trial for people who are in serious condition. But the New York State Department of Health has been working on this with some of New York’s best healthcare agencies and we think it shows promise.”
The governor says he has taken heat from people after ordering all non essential businesses to shut their doors but he says he has no regrets.
“I know people are very angry about it. I had a gentleman tell me there is no way the state will ever re-elect you because of what you did. Frankly, I don’t even care about that. I did the right thing.”