"I would like to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for his continued leadership in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His ability to rapidly mobilize resources across the state and his relentless drive to protect New Yorkers will undoubtedly save lives, including many here in Ulster County.

We know that we have a wave coming, and we are pushing hard to get ahead of that wave. I've called for Ulster County to quadruple our hospital and treatment capacity, and this development is a huge step forward in addressing that urgent goal. Adding 235 beds at the Mary's Avenue campus of HealthAlliance, primarily by retrofitting parts of the former Benedictine Hospital, is an innovative way to rapidly meet our needs. Thanks to our close partnership with HealthAlliance and this tremendous support from Governor Cuomo, I'm confident we will save lives here in Ulster County and throughout the region.

In parallel, my team will continue to develop detailed plans for additional hospital and treatment capacity in Ulster County. The buildout at HealthAlliance goes a long way towards meeting the needs we have identified, but we still have more work ahead to add additional treatment sites, mobilize staff, and gather necessary equipment. We will not rest until we meet these needs, and I'm confident that working together we can and we will."

There are currently 133 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ulster County. 

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Attached: (From left to right): Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, Dr. Michael Doyle, and County Executive Ryan at Mary's Avenue campus of HealthAlliance.