Executive Order Extending Disaster Emergency for Healthcare Staffing Shortages

NY Governor Executive Orders

Published February 17th, 2026

Detected February 18th, 2026

Summary

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has extended a disaster emergency declaration for New York County due to ongoing healthcare staffing shortages caused by a nursing strike. The order continues previous emergency measures through February 24, 2026, aiming to ensure continuity of care and patient safety.

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What changed

Executive Order 56.9, issued by the Governor of New York on February 17, 2026, extends the declaration of a disaster emergency specifically for New York County. This extension is a direct response to severe staffing shortages in hospitals resulting from a nursing personnel strike, which threatens the availability and delivery of critical healthcare services. The order continues the terms, conditions, and suspensions previously established by Executive Order 56, which was initially issued on January 9, 2026, to address widespread respiratory viruses and ensure continuity of care.

This extension means that the emergency measures and any associated regulatory suspensions or directives remain in effect for New York County until February 24, 2026. Healthcare providers operating within New York County must continue to adhere to any modified operational requirements or staffing flexibilities mandated by the extended emergency order. The stated purpose is to protect public health and safety by ensuring the continuity of care, particularly for vulnerable populations, during this critical period. While not explicitly stated, non-compliance with the directives stemming from this executive order could lead to scrutiny or enforcement actions by state health authorities.

What to do next

Ensure continued adherence to all directives and suspensions outlined in Executive Order 56 as applied to New York County through February 24, 2026.
Monitor for any further extensions or modifications to the disaster emergency declaration.

Source document (simplified)

Executive Order February 17, 2026

No. 56.9: Extending the Declaration of a Disaster Emergency in New York County Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York

No. 56.9: Extending the Declaration of a Disaster Emergency in New York County Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York
Executive Order 56.9 Extending the Declaration of a Disaster Emergency in New York County Due to Healthcare Staffing Shortages in the State of New York

No. 56.9

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

EXTENDING THE DECLARATION OF A DISASTER EMERGENCY IN NEW YORK COUNTY DUE TO HEALTHCARE STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

WHEREAS, a strike of nursing personnel 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; and

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;

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 New York County 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 New York County through and including February 24, 2026.

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

State in the City of Albany this 17th

day of February in the year two

thousand twenty-six.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor