The state’s largest health system has sent a team of nurses to Buffalo and Rochester to assist two of the largest hospitals in the region with surging COVID-19 cases, staffing shortages and high patient volumes, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday.

Hochul says Northwell Health’s team of 16 clinical professionals and two team leads were deployed to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo and the University of Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital on Saturday. The deployment includes intensive care, emergency department and medical-surgical nurses.

"Fighting the winter surge requires a statewide team effort from partners across New York State," Hochul said in a statement. "I want to thank Northwell Health for answering the call to action and partnering with us to send a team of extraordinarily skilled nurses that will boost hospital capacity and help us bring the numbers down in Western New York."

"We are thankful to Governor Hochul and Northwell Health for coordinating this effort to assist ECMC while we experience extremely high patient volumes and continue to address our staffing shortages," the president and CEO, Erie County Medical Center, Dr. Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. said. This is an example of how we can all collaborate to provide lifesaving patient care."

Hochul says the two-week mission comes as the entire state sees a rise in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.