Total hospitalizations 15,021 as of yesterday. Hospitalizations have remained largely flat over
the past few days.
1,359 new COVID hospitalizations yesterday.
438 total deaths in NY yesterday:
o 403 in hospitals; and
o 35 in nursing homes.
Will there be a second wave?
o COVID is expected to lessen during the summer, but a second wave is possible in
the fall causing worries about dealing with COVID and the Flu.
Anti-Body Study
Today, Phase I results are available from 3,000 surveys collected over two days in 19
counties and 40 localities across the state.
No one under age 18 was surveyed.
People are surveyed in grocery stores and other public locations.
13.9% tested positive for having the antibodies.
Preliminary data shows that if infection rate is 13.9%, death rate may be lower than
some estimates.
This means 2.7M infected statewide with approximate 15,500 total fatalities (not
considering in-home deaths), the death rate is about 0.5% of people infected.
Reimagine NY: State Finances
Cuomo stated that using the bankruptcy route as Senator McConnell has
suggested is not a good way to go because if states like NY, CA, and MI declare
bankruptcy the national economy would fail.
"How ugly a thought" for Senator McConnell to suggest that blue states suffering
from Coronavirus should not be bailed out.
o OPINION: Keep in mind that the state was already facing close to a $10B deficit
due to fiscal mismanagement by the administration. This issue is known to
lawmakers (Democrat and Republican) in DC and concerns have been raised
about where the money would go. California was in a worse situation prior to
this crisis. However, money will make it to the state – be it with strings attached.
NY puts in more money into the federal pot than it receives.
Cuomo: “Kentucky receives more federal funding than it puts into the federal pot. So
which state is getting bailed out?”
Testing & Tracing
Contact tracing is not the "be all, end all" but it is essential. Cuomo reiterated the need
to test, trace and isolate and find those who test positive for antibodies so convalescent
plasma can be donated.
Testing will help inform our infection rate and reopening strategy.
Sample size of 3,000 has been used.
More testing will be done in African-American and Latino communities in NYC.
Testing will begin in public housing developments today.
Will work with Rep. Jeffries and Velaquez to partner with churches and increase testing
sites.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes require PPE as well as temperature checks for staff:
o PPE has been given to nursing homes; and
o As of about two weeks ago homes have received 417K masks, about 1K gowns,
and 5K gallons of sanitizer.
COVID residents must be isolated.
Separate staff must transfer COVID residents within facility to another long-term care
facility, or to another non-certified location.
All residents and family members must be notified within 24 hours if any resident tests
positive for COVID or any resident suffers COVID related death.
COVID positive residents must be readmitted only if they have the ability to provide
adequate level of care under DOH and CDC guidance.
DOH is partnering with AG James to begin investigations for violations.
Nursing homes must immediately report to DOH actions they have taken to comply with
DOH and CDC directives.
DOH will inspect facilities that have not complied with directives, including separation
policies, and inadequate PPE.
If DOH determines that facilities failed to comply, DOH will immediately require facility
to submit action plan and facility could be fined $10K per violation or potentially lose
operating license.
Nursing homes have been complying with reporting, but have had issues due to
the current situation.
If a nursing home cannot provide adequate care, the patient must be transferred.
If an adequate facility cannot be found, they must contact the DOH.
Private Workforce & Department of Labor
Non-essential workers home is still being paid.
NYS has paid out $2.2B in unemployment to over 1 million
New Yorkers.
- 1.4M NYers will be collecting unemployment.
NY has rolled out new system to streamline the application process for unemployment.
3,000 people have been recruited to assist with unemployment issues.
Gig workers are the only ones with outstanding unemployment cases.