On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York State was ready for Army Corps to start construction at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Westbury, Westchester County Center and Jacob K. Javits Center.
Under the executive order, FEMA is erecting a federal hospital within the Javits Center and was creating four 250-bed fully-equipped and staffed facilities.
The State has also leased a 600-bed capacity nursing home facility in Brooklyn to convert into temporary hospital.
The Department of Health was also requested to come up with a plan to expand capacity by a minimum of 50 percent with a coal of 100 Percent
After meeting with the Amry Corp. Governor Cuomo said, “I met with the Army Corps. They’ve reviewed these sites. I approve it. I approve it on behalf of the State of New York, and now we just have to get it done and get it done quickly.”
He also called on the federal government to invoke the Defense Production Act, where the federal government has the legal authority to order companies you must produce vital supplies.
“I think the federal government should order factories to manufacture masks, gowns, ventilators, the essential medical equipment that is going to make a difference between life and death.
“We need the product[s] now. We have cries from hospitals around the state. I have spoken to other governors across the country. They have the same situation. They need these materials now and only the federal government can make that happen.”
