Suffolk County has 662 confirmed COVID-19 cases, out of 10,356 statewide, said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in his Saturday morning briefing. The public health crisis could last months, he said, and more hospital capacity is urgently needed.
The increase in confirmed cases reflects an enormous push for testing over recent days, he said. So far 3,232 in the county have been tested, with 45,437 tested around New York State.
The hospitalization rate statewide is 15 percent, he said. About 3 percent of cases are expected to require treatment in an intensive care unit, where ventilators are in short supply.
And the crisis isn’t likely to end soon, he said, saying between 40 and 80 percent of New Yorkers may ultimately be infected by the virus “by the end of the day”. That’s 7.8 to 15 million people statewide.
“We’re just trying to postpone the end of the day so we can deal with the capacity,” he said.
Expanding hospital capacity
Cuomo said he is looking to expand hospital capacity in New York with temporary medical facilities at sites including SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Westbury and the Javits Center in Manhattan. He said he’d be visiting these sites later today.
The plan is to work with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and install field hospitals at each of these sites with a capacity of 250 beds.
Now that the federal government has declared a state of emergency, funding for response measures will be available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cuomo said. Typically FEMA picks up 75 percent of disaster recovery costs, with the state paying the remainder.
Cuomo said he’s asking that FEMA waive the state portion. And he’s asking the state’s federal legislators to fix a loophole in recently passed legislation that excludes New York State from $6 billion in other recovery funding.
“We have more coronavirus than any other state,” he said. ‘That we should not be included in the bill obviously made no sense.”
Addressing immediate needs
Cuomo said the state has found 6,000 ventilators, and is looking into technology that may allow one ventilator to serve two patients, he said. What’s more, it has found 2 million N-95 masks that will distributed to health care workers in area of high concentration. Some 500,000 that are destined for Suffolk County health care workers, he said.
The state is also working with apparel manufacturers to make additional personal protective equipment, like masks and gowns, for the state.
To address the needs of New Yorkers dealing with the emotional toll of the crisis, Cuomo said state officials want to set up an “electronic mental health center” and is seeking the assistance of furloughed and retired mental health workers to volunteer to man the online service.
Cuomo calls on New Yorkers to ‘practice humanity’
“As a society we’ve never gone through this,” he said. “We went thru 9/11, which I think is relevant in terms of some feelings that people are experiencing … But as a society, as a country, we’ve been blessed in that we haven’t gone through something as disruptive as this.”
“A crisis really brings out the truth — about ourselves first of all, and about others. And you see people’s strengths and weaknesses. And you see society’s strengths and weaknesses. You see both the beauty and the vulnerability,” he said.
“You see the best in people and you see the worst in people. You see people rise to the occasion and you see people fall from the burden of emotion,” he said.
But all around, you see people doing “extraordinary work and they deserve our thanks,” he said. These include health care workers, pharmacists, first responders, food service personnel, and more.
“These are just extraordinary heroes,” he said. “Ask yourself, would you do that?”
“This is public service. This is public service in stereo and on steroids,” he said. “This is people really stepping up. When you see them, say thank you.”
These workers are leaving their families behind to go to work.
Cuomo calls on New Yorkers to ‘practice humanity’
“As a society we’ve never gone through this,” he said. “We went thru 9/11, which I think is relevant in terms of some feelings which people are now experiencing.
“9/11 transformed society, you were never the same … you havd a sense of vulnerability which you never felt before.
“But as a society, as a country, we haven’t gone through something as disruptive as this.”
“A crisis really brings about the truth — about ourselves first of all, and about others. You see people’s strengths and weaknesses; you see society’s strengths and weaknesses, both the beauty and the vulnerability,” he said.
“You see the best in people and you see the worst in people; you see people rise to the occasion and you see people fall to the burden of emotion,” he said.
But all around, you see “extraordinary” people going to work and “they deserve our thanks,” he said. These include health care workers, pharmacists, first responders, food service personnel, and more.
“These are just extraordinary heroes,” he said. “Ask yourself, would you do that?”
“This is public service in stereo and on steroids,” he said. “This is people really stepping up. When you see them, say thank you.”
“They’re just as nervous as you are, but they’re doing their jobs,” he said. “It gives us a perspective on how beautiful people can be and how courageous people can be and how great Americans can be.”
“The time is now to show some kindness, show some compassion, show some gentility — even as a New Yorker,” he said. “It’s a time for a smile when you’re walking past someone. It’s a time for a nod. It’s a time to say hello.”
Cuomo urged New Yorkers to be patient. “Dont let the little things get you annoyed. That’s New York at its best.”
“Yeah, we have a problem, yes we will deal with it, yes we will overcome it. But let’s find our better selves in doing it,” he said, and lead the way for other Americans. “That’s the New York destiny and the New York legacy.
“That’s why I’m proud to be a New Yorker. That’s why I’m proud to be the governor of this great state.”