The number of hospitals in New York state facing staffed bed capacity limitations has decline in the last week, dropping from 32 facilities to 28, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Health. 

The hospitals that are deemed to be facing a capacity crunch are ordered by state health officials to limit elective surgeries and procedures for at least two weeks. Minimal capacity is defined as a hospital having 10% of its staffed beds remaining or less or face other capacity issues deemed to be of enough concern to limit elective procedures and surgeries.

Procedures that were not covered by the governor's order include those relating to cancer and diagnostic reviews, neurosurgery, intractable pain, highly symptomatic patients, transplants, trauma, cardiac with symptoms, limb threatening vascular procedures and dialysis vascular access. 

Several hospitals have been taken off the list since the order was put into effect earlier this month, including Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital. The remaining hospitals on the list are all in areas of upstate New York. 

There are now 4,200 people who are hospitalized in New York statewide due to COVID-19, a sharp increase this month as cases have surged in recent weeks. 

State officials have sought to alleviate the staff shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities with trained National Guard members.