[eitland]

> but given the social distancing efforts, NYC didn't end up facing shortages

Another reason (warning, just from reading the news here and elsewhere) might be that it seems ventilators aren't as useful with Covid-19 as expected, and possibly actively harmful in a number of cases (again, this is just my rehash of what I have read).

From what I read doctors now try to use just proning and extra oxygen for as long as possible even if ventilators are available.

People actually working in healthcare or who have first hand knowledge should feel welcome to update this.