ROCHESTER, N.Y. — UR Medicine is postponing some elective procedures in response to the surge of coronavirus in the Rochester region.

Leaders say surgeons will meet each day to review which procedures can be pushed back so staff can be redirected to COVID-19 response.

Both URMC and Rochester Regional Health are hoping to avoid halting elective surgeries altogether or having Gov. Cuomo make that decision for them.

"What we're concerned about is what the governor probably had to do in Erie County, and that is make decisions for the health care systems and force them to stop elective surgeries. I hope that we're better than that here. That our health systems are very sophisticated and able to help pay for both COVID and non-COVID illness and ensure that we have capacity for all patients as needed," said Dr. Michael Mendoza, Monroe County health commissioner.

"We want the community as healthy as possible physically and economically and hope that we won't get backed into a situation where there's no other choice," said Dr. Robert Mayo, chief medical officer at Rochester Regional Health.

Dr. Michael Apostolakos of URMC says the system already has a relationship with RRH where they transfer patients needing other services between hospitals to balance capacity.

They have not needed to do this with COVID-19 patients yet, but they are prepared if the situation calls for it.