OBSERVER Photo Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Health care facilities created plans last year to handle capacity issues. Gov. Kathy Hochul suggests those plans be dusted off as staffing shortages loom in health care facilities statewide.

Hochul made her remarks in response to reporters’ questions during a news conference Wednesday in Albany.

“This won’t happen for a couple weeks anyhow,” Hochul said. “This was just anticipatory that the requirement goes into effect in a couple of weeks. We’ll be on it. I’m not going to let this be a problem for the state of New York. I will make sure that we have the resources. And people are required to have temporary staffing plans anyhow.”

Fredonia’s WCA Home on Temple Street announced last week that it was bracing for the loss of almost one-third of its staff due to the state’s vaccine requirement. The facility said six unvaccinated employees have served notice that they plan to leave.

In response to a reporter’s question about a Chautauqua County assisted care facility that could lose one-third of its staff, Hochul referred to state-required COVID-19 plans created last year as a roadmap for health care facilities to use.

“And maybe it’s incumbent upon us right now to make sure that they’re actually following what they’re supposed to do to be prepared. That being said, I have actually had conversations with the Department of Health and everyone in health care, in the state of New York to figure out how we can send support if necessary,” Hochul said.

See Thursday’s edition for complete coverage.