‘Troubling and astronomical’ coronavirus cases increase urgency for hospital beds, New York Gov. Cuomo says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a “troubling and astronomical” number of coronavirus cases have increased the urgency across the state for more hospital beds as the pace of new infections rises at a rapid clip.
“We’re not slowing it and it is accelerating on its own,” Cuomo said at a press conference Tuesday. He said the state is now projecting it will need more hospital beds and a lot sooner than previously thought. The state now estimates it will need 140,000 hospital beds, up from previous projections of 110,000. “That apex could be, they project, 14 to 21 days away.”
Cases soared across the state to 25,665, Cuomo said.
“New York is the canary in the coal mine. New York is going first. We have the highest and fastest rate of infection,” he said, adding that what’s happening in New York will spread to California, Washington and other states from there.
Cuomo said the state has purchased about 7,000 ventilators. We need at a minimum an additional 30,000 ventilators.”
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