NY Coronavirus: State To Seize Idle Ventilators, Cuomo Says

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to sign an executive order that will allow the state to seize unused ventilators and send them to institutions that need them most as the number of cases of the new coronavirus topped 100,000 in New York.

Cuomo said Friday more than 14,000 people have been hospitalized in the state, with more than 3,700 receiving intensive care. The death toll skyrocketed to 2,935 overnight, the single highest increase since the outbreak began.

The National Guard will redistribute the life-saving ventilators, Cuomo said, which help patients with the COVID-19 disease breathe.

"We don’t have enough. Period," Cuomo said.

He also pushed back against the phrasing that the state is seizing ventilators.

"Am I seizing ventilators, no," Cuomo said. "I am taking excess equipment to save lives."

He noted a sharp decrease in the number of non-coronavirus related hospitalizations, including those related to crime and crashes. Hospitals have essentially become ICU hospitals for COVID-19 patients, he said. While the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan will now accept coronavirus patients, Cuomo said the U.S. Navy does not want those patients on the USNS Comfort over concerns they would have to disinfect the ship.

In response to a reporter's question, Dr. Howard Zucker, New York's health commissioner, said there is no evidence to suggest that non-N95 face masks — such as bandanas — are effective at preventing the virus from spreading. However, he acknowledged they can't hurt as long as people don't get a false sense of security and continue practicing social distancing. The remark directly contradicted a directive from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio that people cover their faces.

During his daily news briefing, Cuomo said the state budget passed overnight, but lamented the state is "broke" due to a massive drop in revenue.

"The state has no money," he said, adding that the budget was calibrated for the decrease in future revenue and other losses. The state will also heavily rely on federal aid, he said.