A Binghamton native is working on the front lines in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in a New York City hospital emergency room.

Danielle Kendrick is a Binghamton University graduate. She worked for a few years at Binghamton General Hospital before starting her current job as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens.

Kendrick has been working in the emergency room in recent days to help handle the dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus patients arriving at the hospital.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program Friday, Kendrick said has increased its capacity by using waiting rooms, hallways and every other available space. She said "anywhere we can put a patient, there is a patient."

Kendrick said everyone - including security officers and housekeeping staff - is working to assist patients.

Protective gear is in short supply. Kendrick said single-use masks now are rationed so they are utilized for an entire shift. She said "we are definitely not receiving the amount of supplies we should."

Kendrick said doctors are having "very serious conversations" with families about what should be done because of the limited number of intensive care unit beds, ventilators and other equipment.

As of Friday, the number of coronavirus deaths in New York state had increased to 2,935. That figure included 562 more deaths in the past 24 hours.

Kendrick closed the interview with some advice for her friends and relatives in the Binghamton area: "Broome County does not have to be the next New York City. It does not have to be the next epicenter, so if everyone can just continue to take this very seriously and continue to practice social distancing, staying home, washing your hands. We're really not asking for much as health care providers from you at home but believe me it's making a difference."

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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