State Of Emergency Declared As NY Prepares For Omicron Variant

NEW YORK – A state of emergency was issued for New York Friday as the state's governor warned a new coronavirus variant discovered in Africa would soon turn up close to home.

"It's coming," governor Kathy Hochul warned of the Omicron variant that was recently discovered in South Africa.

The executive order allows the Department of Health to cancel non-urgent scheduled surgeries if medical centers' capacity runs low, which is defined as having less than 10 percent of staffed beds available. The cancellations haven't been done since the height of the pandemic last year.

Hochul said it was necessary to increase space in hospitals ahead of a potential spike in COVID-19 cases.

"We've taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic," Hochul said. "However, we continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new Omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it's coming.

"In preparation, I am announcing urgent steps today to expand hospital capacity and help ensure our hospital systems can tackle any challenges posed by the pandemic as we head into the winter months. The vaccine remains one of our greatest weapons in fighting the pandemic, and I encourage every New Yorker to get vaccinated, and get the booster if you're fully vaccinated."

The order will also make it easier for the state to acquire critical supplies if needed, Hochul said.

The cancellation of surgeries takes effect on Dec. 3 and will be re-assessed on Jan. 15, the governor's office said.