NY prepares for new COVID-19 variant

NY prepares for new COVID-19 variant

FILE - People queue to be tested for COVID-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday Nov. 27, 2021. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an executive order intended to boost hospital capacity and address staffing shortages, amid warnings about a new and highly transmissible coronavirus variant, known as "omicron." (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

East Farmingdale, NY- New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, said she’s preparing for the arrival of the omicron COVID-19 variant. Gov. Hochul, took took steps Friday to expand hospital capacity in New York State and declared a Disaster State of Emergency which goes into effect on Friday, December 3, 2021. The new protocols including hospitals ability to postpone elective surgeries based on COVID-19 volume, will be in effect through January 15, 2022.

Read the full press release from the Governor’s office, here.

Photo: FILE – People queue to be tested for COVID-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday Nov. 27, 2021. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an executive order intended to boost hospital capacity and address staffing shortages, amid warnings about a new and highly transmissible coronavirus variant, known as “omicron.” (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)