Statement from Senior Advisor to the Governor Rich Azzopardi

"In addressing the coronavirus pandemic, it is essential that we all work together. While the pandemic is primarily in downstate New York now - it is projected to peak and reduce in downstate and then increase in upstate. It is essential that we all help each other and the Governor is asking upstate hospitals to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals.

"Ventilators literally save lives. They will be returned or reimbursed to those hospitals.

"Moreover, when the pandemic wave hits upstate New York, the Governor will ask downstate hospitals for similar help.