Aqueduct being considered as temporary hospital site

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will seek federal authority to convert part of Aqueduct Racetrack into a temporary hospital to help with a possible shortage of beds in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic crisis.

During his daily coronavirus briefing, Cuomo said Friday he hopes to utilize approximately 100,000 square feet of Aqueduct – a combination of inside and outside property – that would house 1,000 temporary beds. Aqueduct is one of four sites Cuomo planned to tour with the Army Corps of Engineers on Friday as he looks to transform available properties into temporary hospitals in all five boroughs of New York City as well Rockland and Westchester counties and Long Island.

Aqueduct would be part of what is phase II of this plan. Cuomo has already selected four sites as part of phase I, including the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan where on Friday he held his daily briefing.

Cuomo is preparing for a worst-case scenario in which he estimates New York would need approximately 140,000 hospital beds, including 40,000 intensive-care unit beds. Cuomo said New York currently has 53,000 hospital beds and 3,000 ICU beds.

“We’re looking far and wide, being very creative and aggressive finding all the space we can possibly find and converting it to be ready in case we have that overflow capacity,” Cuomo said.

There are 25,398 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City, and 44,635 statewide, Cuomo announced Friday. There are six confirmed cases of coronavirus on the backstretch at Belmont Park, located in Nassau County.

“NYRA and the New York racing community are thankful for Governor Cuomo’s steady leadership during this unprecedented public health crisis, and we stand ready to assist in any way we can,” said NYRA CEO and President Dave O’Rourke. “The governor’s ability to quickly marshal all available resources is saving lives and inspiring action both here in New York and across the nation. We welcome the opportunity for Aqueduct Racetrack to serve as a safe haven for those recovering from this virus, recognizing that we all must work together as a community to meet this challenge and emerge stronger for it.”

The New York Racing Association has previously announced that it has suspended racing operations at Aqueduct through at least April 5. If Aqueduct is approved as a site for a temporary hospital, it stands to reason the remainder of the meet, which was scheduled to end April 19, would also be suspended.