The New York State Department of Health on Thursday ordered Mount Sinai’s Beth Israel campus to “immediately stop” closing beds and services without the agency’s approval.

Local elected officials and community members believe the cease-and-desist order issued by the department is a tiny win in their fight to keep it open.

Manhattan Councilwoman Carlina Rivera is among the lawmakers who have been pushing to keep the campus open.

“When we found out that they were eliminating services and eliminating beds, not only is that not the process at the state level, but it is also really tragic to hear that we're not being included and we're not being heard,” she explained.

Mount Sinai, which bought Beth Israel 10 years ago, announced early in the fall that the hospital would close in July, citing a profit loss of $150 million this year.

In October, the hospital submitted a closure plan to the state, then updated it last month. The addendum included expedited closures of staffed beds and other operations, giving the reason of ensuring patient safety and staff resignations.

“The cease-and-desist letter also stated something that was very telling,” Rivera said. “People starting to leave the hospital as employees after they heard it was closing. And so you can't close a hospital until you're approved by the state.”

The Department of Health is now requiring Beth Israel to give them a written response confirming no changes in operation will happen until the agency gives their plan the green light.

A representative from the hospital said they have received the letter and are reviewing it, noting patient health and safety is a priority.

“We will remain united on this issue and that we're going to continue to fight. If it's the next six months, we will not let up. We need services here,” Rivera said.

The letter also states that the hospital could face a daily $2,000 fine for continuing to close beds or stop services each day until their plan is approved.