NEW YORK — The coronavirus outbreak in New York could last between four and nine months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday.

The time frame was announced as the governor outlined his plans to respond to the outbreak and stem the spread of the virus, as more than 15,000 cases have been confirmed statewide. The death toll rose to 374 people on Sunday, the governor said.

"It’s going to be four months, six months, nine months … we’re in that range,” Cuomo said, adding that how officials respond and whether New Yorkers follow social distancing rules will play a large role.

Cuomo called on the federal government to step up its efforts to get personal protection equipment like N95 masks to the hospitals that need them.

Four FEMA hospitals, each with a 250-bed capacity, will be built inside the Javits Center, Cuomo announced. The governor requested the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers to build three additional temporary hospitals at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Westbury and the Westchester Convention Center.

It's estimated that New York will need between 50,000 and 75,000 additional hospital beds to handle the influx of coronavirus patients in the coming months.

