Here at Queens Hospital Center it is one of the medical centers in the city that is close to the limit of capacity, this while the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase according to data from the New York Department of Health.
With the arrival of the Ómicron variant in the country to Johnny Hernández, a restaurant worker who lives in the area is concerned that there may be few beds to attend to patients.
“It is of first necessity when people feel with the infection to be able to go to a hospital and if everyone is full, they will see many problems,” said Hernández.
At least last week there were few beds available in thirty-seven hospitals in the state, two of these in New York City, the Queens Hospital Center and the Long Island Jewish Forest Hills.
These hospitals had around, or less than 10 percent of the available capacity, the Health Department reported.
Just this Wednesday the first positive case of the Omicron variant was reported in San Francisco, California.
It is about a man who traveled to South Africa a few weeks ago. Although the person had received two doses of the vaccine, they still have mild symptoms.
That is why Diego Apolinario says that he will choose to continue with the mask on and thus avoid getting infected and having to go to the hospital.
“You have to take care of yourself more than anything. When you go home, you probably take off your mask but when you go on the bus, on the train it is important to protect yourself,” said Apolinario.
A Northwell Health statement said they are working to accommodate patients either by transferring them to other centers or adding more beds.
To address the situation, Governor Hochul signed an executive order that limits elective surgeries until January 15 in medical centers with less than 10 percent capacity.
While the White House announces that if the Food and Drug Administration approves the use of pills to treat the coronavirus, they will work on a distribution plan for the thirteen million doses of this drug that they have stored.
In addition, the federal government says that when these drugs become available they will ensure that they reach vulnerable communities where there is a high risk of contagion.
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