Gov. Hochul will order some NY hospitals to halt elective surgeries
New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul COVID-19 addresses rising cases in the state and the new variant Omicron at a press conference in November. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday that some state hospitals will be ordered to halt certain elective surgeries in an effort to combat a recent COVID-19 surge, Hochul said at a press conference.
Why it matters: New York has struggled with hospital capacity throughout the pandemic and postponed nonessential procedures before.
Details: Hochul said the program to end elective surgeries will be "targeted" and affect around 30 facilities, which are expected to be announced late Monday.
What she's saying: "We did not want to return to a scenario in the early months of the pandemic where there was a wholesale shutting down of elective surgeries regardless of what the infection rate was in a region," Hochul said.
- Hochul also added that she was "reserving the right" to take further steps if necessary.
What's next: The order will go into effect on Thursday, per the initial announcement.
Go deeper: Surgeries are getting delayed again