Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said during a press conference he would sign an executive order allowing the government to seize unused ventilators in New York state and redistribute them to hospitals in need as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
“The National Guard are going to be deployed to pick them up across the state, and deploy them to places that we need them,” Cuomo said during a press conference on Friday.
He estimated that about several hundred ventilators would be redistributed.
“Am I willing to deploy the National Guard and inconvenience people for several hundred lives? he asked. “You’re damn right I am.”
Cuomo said the executive order would also apply to unused medical PPE.
“We are running out of ventilators and we could have people dying because there are no ventilators,” he said.
Jeffries’ reported meeting with Kushner about possible Trump cooperation draws left-wing backlash
Iran puts out propaganda video tracking Barron Trump’s location, offering $10 million for his assassination
Mamdani jumps into Democratic Party feud, alleging boss seeking to subvert ‘will of voters’
Iowa focus group’s warning to Republicans: Farm tariff pain could cost you the Senate
Pilot’s bravery on display in steering crippled plane clear of tragedy in dramatic water landing
Trump Admin Invokes FDR and Churchill in Declaring ‘Economic D-Day’
Arizona police shooting suspect arrested, another remains at large after killing 1, wounding fiancee
Incredible Footage: Police Roll Up on Blood-Streaked Man in Middle of Road, Learn His F/A-18 Just Cratered Into Mountainside, But He’s OK
Birth tourism scams draw sweeping crackdown as visa revocations climb
American Automaker Recalls Over 1 Million Cars for Possible Seat Belt Issue
US kills two ‘narco-terrorists’ in strike 2 months since last announced anti-‘narco-trafficking’ attack
Nigeria May Lose Major US Aid Package Over Christian Persecution
Thune-aligned groups unleash historic war chest to defend Senate majority: ‘Winning message’
AI’s massive appetite for power, water ignites fight in high-stakes Texas Senate race
Linda McMahon vows crackdown on teachers sexually harassing students: ‘Must end’
Cuomo said he would issue the order to prevent people from dying.
“I’m just not going to allow us to go there, I think it would be wholly irresponsible,” he said, noting that upstate New York hospitals did not have as many cases.
Cuomo said that hospitals would get their seized ventilators back when the need was filled or the state would pay for them.
“I apologize for the hardship to those institutions, ultimately there is no hardship, if you don’t get the ventilator back, I give you my personal word I will pay you for the ventilator,” he said.
“Don’t use the word ‘seize,’” Cuomo said to reporters, calling it a “harsh word.”
“It’s sharing of resources,” he said.
Story cited here.
