Long Island emergency room closes due to nurse shortage

by Cameron Jenkins - 11/23/21 2:48 PM ET

A Long Island emergency room on Monday announced its temporary closure due to a reported nursing shortage.

According to a local Fox News affiliate station, Mount Sinai’s Long Beach Emergency Department made the announcement stating that many of its healthcare workers who were working on a temporary religious exemption were suspended on Monday after failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Officials noted that the decision to close the healthcare facility ultimately came after all other options were exhausted, the news outlet reported.

The City of Long Beach shared a notice on Facebook on Monday, detailing that the closure could last up to a month.

“This is completely unacceptable, especially as we move into the holiday season. The administration is working with all parties to come up with a solution that results in the Emergency Room remaining open,” the post stated.

“In the interim, the administration, our Police, and Fire Departments will do all they can to ensure our residents remain safe and can be efficiently transported to medical care should the need arise,” it added.

The hospital is reportedly in the process of recruiting more staff members who are vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Tags hospital staffing shortage Long Island New York