No. 56.2: 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[...]

No. 56.2

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

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 there have been record-high numbers of influenza cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks;

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

WHEREAS, the parties reached an agreement through collective bargaining to avoid a nursing strike at the potentially impacted Nassau County hospitals;

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, modify the terms of such Executive Order Number 56 to rescind the declaration of a State Disaster Emergency in Nassau County and end the suspension or modification of any law or requirement related to the rescinded declaration in Nassau County, and continue the terms, conditions, and suspensions contained in Executive Order Number 56 as applied to Bronx, New York, and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 2, 2026.

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

State in the City of Albany this 24th day of

January in the year two thousand twenty-six.

BY THE GOVERNOR

Secretary to the Governor