Cuomo to issue executive order allowing labor support in hospital delivery, recovery rooms

Pregnant women in New York City will not have to endure labor alone or remain isolated from their partners and families after Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced an executive order on Saturday.

“In no hospital in New York will a woman be forced to be alone when she gives birth. Not now, not ever,” Cuomo said on Twitter.

In no hospital in New York will a woman be forced to be alone when she gives birth.

Not now, not ever.https://t.co/umQte2k9WO

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 28, 2020

Melissa DeRosa, secretary to Cuomo, announced that the order would require all hospitals in New York — public and private — to adhere to the latest policy issued by the New York State Department of Health.

The order comes as a response to two New York City private hospital systems, NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai, that decided to ban people from labor rooms due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“Women will not be forced to be alone when they are giving birth,” DeRosa said in a post on Twitter.

The Department of Health notified hospital facilities on Friday, requiring them to allow at least one person to accompany women during labor and delivery.

Representatives from Mount Sinai said they were reviewing the guidelines before they would announce a decision to lift the ban of company in delivery rooms, according to the report.

“As the pandemic continues to evolve, Mount Sinai Health System is taking proactive measures to provide the safest environment possible to protect our patients, staff and visitors,” Renatt Brodsky, a spokeswoman for Mount Sinai said. “We are reviewing the new guidelines, but will make the best decisions for our patients, frontline staff and entire community.”

NewYork-Presbyterian said it would follow the new guidelines from Cuomo.

“We will comply with the Executive Order regarding visitors for obstetric patients, effective immediately,” a spokeswoman for the hospital said. “Our highest priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our patients, their families, and our staff.”