The USNS Comfort docked at Pier 88 in Manhattan Monday morning, bringing with it 1,000 beds and much needed health care staff. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo in his daily press briefing today called health care workers the soldiers on the front-line. 

"The front-line battle is in the health care system. The first step is to flatten the curve, keep people home. Second step is don't let the hospital system get overwhelmed," Cuomo said. 

The state is asking for any health care workers available across the country to come to New York and volunteer their services. Cuomo says once New York gets over its own curve, then the state will return the favor. 

But until then, Cuomo says that the state is working hard to stockpile resources and medical equipment, gearing up for the state's apex, or peak number of cases, in about two to three weeks. 

"If you wait to prepare for the storm to hit, it is too late, my friends," Cuomo urged.

There are now 66,497 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York. Over 9,000 people have been hospitalized and over 2,000 are in the ICU. 

The total number of people who have died from COVID-19 is now 1,218. Just yesterday, the number was at 965. 

Cuomo is encouraging everyone that can to continue to stay at home as much as possible.