New York residents are being asked to register as organ donors through the New York State Donate Life Registry.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all areas of the healthcare system, including organ donation, the state Donate Life Registry is a way for New Yorkers to register to become an organ donor and give someone a second chance at life.

“As we continue to fight against COVID-19, we once again have an opportunity to demonstrate New York’s tremendous love and generosity by encouraging New Yorkers to become organ donors, saving more lives in the process,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused declines in organ donations, and with so many awaiting lifesaving organ transplants, I encourage New Yorkers to become organ donors and join the NYS Donate Life Registry.”

While most people who have COVID-19 fully recover, older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions are most at risk of suffering damage to their lungs and other organs as well, which has increased the need for organ donors.

More than 9,000 New Yorkers are among the 108,675 Americans currently awaiting an organ transplant, according to the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. More than 400 New Yorkers die each year because the organ they need is not donated in time, according to Donate Life NYS. Nationally, 22 people each day die while awaiting a match for a transplant, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.

Every nine minutes, someone is added to the wait list, but one donor can save as many as eight lives and heal 75 lives through tissue and corneal donation. Any New Yorker age 16 and older is eligible to enroll in the Registry. Approximately 41% of eligible New York state residents have enrolled to be organ donors through the Registry.

Enroll on the state Donate Life Registry at donatelife.ny.gov.

Under “Lauren’s Law,” DMV customers can also continue to register as an organ donor by completing the donation section of their driver license or non-driver ID renewal application. The law is named for Lauren Shields, a Rockland County resident who received a life-saving heart transplant at age 9. New Yorkers registering to vote can join the Registry by completing that section of the voter registration paper or online form here. New Yorkers seeking health insurance through the NY State of Health Insurance Marketplace can enroll in the Registry on line as well.

DMV also offers a Donate Life custom license plate to raise awareness and support critical research. When a consumer orders the plate, $20 of the annual fee is directed to the “Life Pass It On Trust Fund,” which is used for organ donation and transplant research and educational programs promoting organ and tissue donation. Plates can be ordered on the DMV website.