New York Executive Order Extending Healthcare Staffing Shortage Disaster Emergency

NY Governor Executive Orders

Published February 8th, 2026

Detected February 14th, 2026

Summary

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has extended the declaration of a disaster emergency due to healthcare staffing shortages until February 10, 2026. This extension continues the terms and suspensions of a prior executive order aimed at ensuring continuity of care during a nursing strike.

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What changed

Executive Order 56.6, issued by the Governor of New York on February 8, 2026, extends the declaration of a disaster emergency concerning healthcare staffing shortages in Bronx, New York, and contiguous counties. This extension, effective through February 10, 2026, continues the provisions and suspensions outlined in Executive Order 56, which was initially issued to address severe staffing shortages caused by a nursing strike and to ensure the continuity of critical care.

This action directly impacts healthcare providers and employers in the affected regions, requiring them to continue operating under the conditions stipulated by the extended emergency order. While the order aims to ensure patient safety and continuity of care, it is explicitly stated that it is not intended to provide leverage in collective bargaining. Compliance officers should ensure their facilities adhere to any specific directives or waivers that remain in effect under this extended declaration.

What to do next

Ensure continued adherence to directives and waivers related to healthcare staffing shortages as per Executive Order 56.6.
Monitor for any further extensions or modifications to the disaster emergency declaration.

Source document (simplified)

Executive Order February 8, 2026

No. 56.6: Extending the Declaration of a Disaster Emergency in the Counties of Bronx, New York, and Contiguous Counties Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York

No. 56.6: Extending the Declaration of a Disaster Emergency in the Counties of Bronx, New York, and Contiguous Counties Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York
Executive Order 56.6 No. 56.6

E X E C U T I V E O R D E R

EXTENDING THE DECLARATION OF A DISASTER EMERGENCY IN THE COUNTIES OF BRONX, NEW YORK, AND CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES DUE TO HEALTHCARE STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

WHEREAS, a strike of nursing personnel in Bronx and New York counties has caused several hospitals in the State to experience severe staffing shortages, affecting the availability and delivery of care, threatening public health and safety, and the ability to provide critical care, including to vulnerable populations, at a time when respiratory viruses remain widespread;

WHEREAS, to protect public health and safety, on January 9, 2026, I issued Executive Order 56 declaring a State Disaster Emergency in the counties of Bronx, Nassau, New York, and contiguous counties;

WHEREAS, the terms, conditions, and suspensions of Executive Order 56 are a temporary measure to ensure continuity of care and patient safety, and are not intended to afford leverage to any party in collective bargaining; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find a continued need for a disaster emergency order in Bronx and New York Counties and do hereby extend the State Disaster Emergency as set forth in Executive Order Number 56 and continue the terms, conditions, and suspensions contained in Executive Order Number 56 as applied to Bronx, New York, and contiguous counties through and including February 10, 2026.

G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the

State in the City of Albany this 8th day

of February in the year two thousand

twenty-six.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor

Translations

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