NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — As coronavirus cases continue to rise in certain hot spot in New York City, hospitals in those areas are preparing for what might come next.
Many experts have warned about a potential second wave hitting New York and after hospitals were overwhelmed in April, officials want to make sure they are prepared.
Long Island Jewish-Forest Hills is currently in a red zone, meaning they would be among the hospitals seeing an influx of patients first.
“Luckily we have not seen an uptick,” said Dr. Teresa Amato chair of the emergency department.
She says doctors and hospital officials are regularly looking at the numbers.
"We are having at least daily, if not more often, meetings looking at these numbers,” she explains.
Like many hospitals in the city capacity was headed quickly in the spring. They follow the same blueprint now.
"If we needed to upsurge our ICU units all the equipment that we had acquired, all the spaces that we had used, are all ready to go if we need,” said Dr. Amato.
Her best advice to New Yorkers is to remember to wash their hands often, wear a mask and be ready for a potential second wave in cases.
“COVID is a marathon,” she said. “It is not a sprint."
The Forest Hills hospital has a surplus of personal protective equipment in the event of a surge in cases.