The state Health Department announced Saturday that 40 upstate New York hospitals must postpone elective hospital surgeries for at least two weeks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic draining staffing levels and bed capacity for patients.
Hospitals throughout New York City have been spared. The new rule predominantly applies to all medical facilities in the state’s Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes and Central New York regions.
Many of New York’s highest COVID-19 positivity rates are upstate, and these regions have stubbornly low vaccination rates compared to the city.
“We will use every available tool to help ensure that hospitals can manage the COVID-19 winter surge,” said Mary Bassett, the acting state health commissioner.
Dr. Mary Bassett said the move was made to help hospitals manage the winter COVID-19 surge. Hans PenninkOn Nov. 26, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order to temporarily postpone elective hospital surgeries — something that hadn’t been done since the worst of the initial coronavirus outbreak in 2020.
Hochul has said she made the move to deal with staffing shortages and boost bed capacity amid an anticipated “spike” in new cases during colder weather and the emergence of the highly contagious omicron variant.
