New York state officials are considering establishing temporary hospitals on college campuses and in New York City's main convention center in preparation for a possible onslaught of coronavirus patients, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.
Gov. Cuomo tweeted Saturday:
"Today we are traveling the state looking at locations for the Army Corps of Engineers to build new beds.
Sites we're looking at:
-Javits Convention Center
-SUNY Stony Brook
-SUNY Westbury
-Westchester Convention Center"
Cuomo said the government is seeking to increase hospital bed capacity by 50 percent — up to 25,000 more beds. Officials have also identified 2 million protective masks to send to hot spots.
The state is reviewing four possible locations for temporary hospitals, which would be operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The governor also said 1 million N-95 masks are being sent to New York City on Saturday, with another 500,000 masks going to Long Island. He is also trying to find a supplier for more gowns, and clothing companies are converting to make masks.
"Everything that can be done is being done," he said, adding, "We are literally scouring the globe looking for medical supplies."
New York has seen about 10,400 coronavirus cases, and about 1,600 people hospitalized. Spread of the rapidly advancing virus has strained healthcare systems across the globe, and three American states with a combined population of 70 million are moving to restrict residents to their homes to prevent its spread.
California started restricting residents Friday, and New York and Illinois were to follow this weekend. Connecticut and Oregon were preparing to do the same.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.