Corona crisis: Andrew Cuomo asks hospitals to increase capacities by 100 percent

New York completed the first emergency hospital in the corona crisis. The Javits Center exhibition center in Manhattan has been converted into a temporary hospital with 1,000 beds. Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, presented the improvised hospital in a press conference and explained the strategy against the spread of the coronavirus. The USA has now reported the most corona cases worldwide.

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A total of eight temporary hospitals are to be built. For four of the planned hospitals, the state of New York needs further financial aid from the US capital Washington, which has not yet been approved. It has not yet been decided whether these will be granted. Cuomo also asked hospitals to increase their capacities by at least 50 percent, preferably by 100 percent.

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So far, the state has 53,000 hospital beds, according to Cuomo. According to Cuomo, scientists assume that in a few weeks the crisis could peak in the city – and 140,000 beds would then be needed. Not only should hospitals increase their size, the government also wants to convert hotels and student dormitories to increase the number of beds.

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519 New Yorkers have since died of coronavirus

Cuomo estimates that 30,000 to 40,000 ventilators may be required. US President Donald Trump had previously called on Twitter that the state should distribute all ventilators kept in stock. When asked about it, Cuomo replied at the press conference that they had ventilators in stock because, according to all the calculations he knew, they would be needed soon. “Everyone has a right to their own opinion. But I don’t act on opinions – I act on the basis of facts,” he added.

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Cuomo stressed that the state is doing everything it can to combat the crisis. “We are fighting a deadly virus,” he said, “it’s the worst news, but it’s not unexpected news.” More than 44,600 people in New York state have now been infected with the virus and 519 have died. The time in which the infections doubled has become longer. That was good news, said Cuomo. New York is the center of the pandemic in the United States.

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Schools in New York will be closed for at least another two weeks. No evictions due to rent arrears can take place for 90 days. New York has also decided to close all unnecessary construction sites for the time being. More than 62,000 volunteers came forward to help during the crisis, Cuomo said. “As tough as we are, we are also full of love,” said Cuomo of the people in his native New York City.

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