The state plans to redistribute ventilators and personal protective equipment from hospitals across the state to those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Lawrence County’s state senators however are critical of the move.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo plans to issue an executive order allowing the state to redistribute ventilators and personal protective equipment, or PPE, from institutions that don't currently need them and redeploy the equipment to other hospitals with the highest need, said a press release from the governor’s office.

State Senators Patty Ritchie and Joe Griffo were both critical of the governor’s announcement.

"I am truly alarmed about today’s announcement that an Executive Order will be issued to force hospitals across the state to turn over ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently not being used," said Ritchie. "Under the order, the National Guard will be deployed to collect the equipment—which I believe will only heighten the anxiety of a population already on edge due to this crisis."

"The people of Central and Northern New York have always been there to help those in need. That being said, our rural hospitals have limited resources. The future is unknown, and as Coronavirus cases continue to rise in our region, we need to be prepared for a potential surge. Even now, local hospitals are in dire need of PPE," Ritchie said.b "I have been in communication with area hospitals and am committed to working alongside them, as well as my partners in government, to ensure the health care needs of our region, both now and in the future, are met as this pandemic continues."

Griffo's comments mirrored that of Ritchie.

“Today’s announcement by Gov. Cuomo that he will be signing an executive order that mandates the transfer of hospital supplies, including ventilators, from upstate health care facilities to downstate hospitals concerns me about what this action means for our region. I do not agree with the Governor’s approach and action he has taken to address this particular decision during this public health emergency," Griffo said.

"Before making this announcement, or any announcements, the Governor should have reached out to and informed local leaders and hospital officials," said Griffo. "Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and now local communities are scrambling to deal with this new order. Further, any type of intimidation or threat against any health care facility or local government is unacceptable and unthinkable from a leader in a time of crisis."

"While I respect the sanctity of life and recognize the need to support and help others, the administration must ensure that any initiatives it undertakes does not put additional risk on the residents and communities of Upstate New York in any way," Griffo said. "All regions of the state must have access to the critical resources that they need to effectively deal with any situation that may develop. I remain committed to ensuring that local hospitals and health care workers get the supplies and equipment they require, and that Mohawk Valley and North Country residents have access to the medical services they need when they need it.”

The National Guard will be used to transport the ventilators and PPE across the state. The equipment will be returned to the hospital or the hospital will be reimbursed for the equipment in the future.

Cuomo also announced the temporary hospital facility at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center will now be used for COVID-19 patients only. Yesterday, President Trump granted the Governor's request for the Javits facility to accept COVID-19 positive patients.

Cuomo also announced the launch of www.ny.gov/covid-19tracker, which will provide New York State's comprehensive coronavirus testing data to the public. The website, which will be updated daily with the latest data, presents visualizations of statewide and county-level testing and results. The public can also access the testing data through Open NY at data.ny.gov, New York State's open data portal, which offers machine readable datasets in downloadable standard formats that can be sorted, searched, analyzed and applied to new uses.

The Governor also announced the State will open a critical new COVID-19 mobile testing site for the Capital District region in partnership with Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Health Partners and The University at Albany. The mobile testing center will be located in a parking lot at the State University of New York at Albany campus - 1400 Washington Avenue, Colonial Quad parking lot, accessible from main UAlbany entry, off Washington Avenue, Albany. The site will prioritize tests for individuals that are among the highest risk population. Residents who would like to be tested must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065. There will be no walk-ins allowed and all patients must be in a vehicle. The center is slated to be operational on Monday, April 6, at 10 am. Site hours will be Monday - Sunday, 8 am - 6 pm.

Finally, the Governor confirmed 10,482 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 102,863 confirmed cases in New York State.