NY MOVES TO OPEN ADDITIONAL BIRTH CENTERS TO PROVIDE MOTHERS SAFE BIRTH ALTERNATIVE TO STRESSED HOSPITALS. REVIEW COVID IMPACT ON PREGNANCY | WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR---65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office. April 21, 2020:

Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the New York State Council on Women and Girls today announced the creation of a COVID-19 maternity task force to examine the best approach to authorizing and certifying additional dedicated birthing centers in an effort to provide mothers a safe alternative to already stressed hospitals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The task force will make recommendations to Governor Cuomo by the end of the week.

Additionally, the task force will work with Regional Perinatal Centers to review literature and make recommendations on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy.

“This pandemic strained our hospital system in a way no one could have ever imagined, and while New York leads in ensuring laboring mothers were able to have a healthy partner, friend or family member with them during childbirth we can and should explore additional ways to make the experience less stressful,” Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor and Chair of the New York State Council on Women and Girls, said. “Birth centers can serve as a safe alternative for low-risk pregnancies — relieving the strain on hospitals and providing a supportive environment for mothers during an already stressful time. I look forward to working with Christy and this diverse task force to develop recommendations for the Governor to review as quickly as possible.”

“Governor Cuomo and New York State have been national leaders in the fight against COVID-19 and the fact that they are prioritizing the health and safety of women and families during this crisis only further underscores that,” said Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts. “I’m honored to be working with Melissa and the other members of this task force to urgently protect mothers and ensure women have much-needed safe birthing options.”

The task force – chaired by Melissa DeRosa – will be comprised of stakeholders from obstetrical providers, pediatric care providers and family planning agencies in conjunction with the State Department of Health. The list of members is available below:

Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts
Christa Christakis, MPP – Executive Director, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists District II
Sascha James-Conterelli, DNP, RN, CNM, FACNM – President, NYSAssociation of Licensed Midwives
Loretta Willis, Vice President Quality & Research, Healthcare Association ofNYS
Lorraine Ryan, Sr. VP Legal Regulatory & Professional Affairs Greater NY Hospital Association
Rose Duhan, President & CEO, Community Health Care Association of NYS
Ngozi Moses, Executive Director Brooklyn Perinatal Network
Nan Strauss – Every Mother Counts
Dr. Deborah E. Campbell, MD – Montefiore Medical Center
Whitney Hall, CCE, LM, CLC – President, NYS Association of Birth Centers
Natasha Nurse-Clarke, PhD, RN – Regional Perinatal Center Coordinator, Maimonides
Dr. Dena Goffman, MD – NYP/Columbia
Rev. Diann Holt – Founder/Executive Director Durham’s Baby Café
Cynthia Jones, MD, MPH – Mosaic Health Center

The task force will maintain an ad-hoc status throughout the COVID-19 state of emergency to address any additional issues related to COVID-19 during pregnancy through postpartum period.