Every New York hospital has been ordered to increase capacity by at least 50 percent, with hopes of increasing capacity by 100 percent.

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On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order requiring all hospitals to increase capacity by a minimum of 50 percent, with a goal of increasing capacity by 100 percent.

"NY is doing everything we can to expand hospital capacity," Cuomo later tweeted. "We are asking all NYS hospitals to increase capacity by 100%—regulations have been waived. We are ordering that every hospital MUST increase capacity by at least 50%. Every hospital must do its part to expand capacity."

To support hospital surge capacity, Cuomo also announced the State Department of Financial Services is requesting that health insurers disclose the number of nurses, doctors and other health professionals they employ so the state can reach out to those employees and ask them to temporarily serve in the medical field during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sunday, Cuomo announced all non-critical elective surgeries will be canceled starting Wednesday. This will free up 25 to 35 percent of the existing hospital beds.

Last week, Cuomo closed all restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in the state.  Restaurants are allowed to offer take-out and delivery services. Bars can also stay open for take-out or delivery. All indoor portions of malls, bowling alleys and amusement parks must close by 8 p.m. on Thursday. There's no word on how long the new restrictions will be in place. However, stores with their own outdoor entrance can stay open.

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