Governor Hochul deploys nurses to help fight COVID-19 surge in Western New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC) — Nurses from Northwell Health will provide much-needed staffing support to Strong Memorial Hospital by taking on patient care duties in the hospital’s emergency department and ICU areas beginning Sunday, Dec. 12.

This decision came from Governor Hochul Saturday afternoon.

The team of 16 clinical professionals and two leam leads, which includes intensive care, emergency department and medical-surgical nurses, were deployed to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo and the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital on Saturday.

"Fighting the winter surge requires a statewide team effort from partners across New York State," Governor Hochul said.

"The deployment of Northwell nurses is the second chapter of a good-news story that began in April 2020 when URMC sent a team of emergency medicine professionals to Northwell as hospitals in the New York City area were overburdened by the first wave of COVID. Northwell is returning the favor," URMC said in a statement.

Leaders from Strong and Northwell are expected to give a briefing on the deployment Sunday afternoon.