Cuomo on COVID-19

In his briefing today, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that all indications are that New York is on the descent. Still, there were 1,300 new admissions to hospitals yesterday, and 507 deaths. The percentage of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in upstate New York--beyond New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties--is now 7 percent, up from 6 percent five days ago.

Cuomo also announced that there would be "aggressive antibody testing" in the next weeks to determine who has had the virus and has presumably developed an immunity to it. That testing will be done by the New York State Department of Health. Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, predicted that 10,000 antibody tests would be administered a day. Diagnostic testing will also continue. 

Cuomo cautioned, "We can control the beast, but the beast is still alive. We did not kill the beast." He stressed that the situation is "wholly contingent on what we do." He also shared the aspiration to "build back better," specifically in the areas of healthcare, transportation and telecommuting, telemedicine, technology in education, and social equity.

Cuomo's message to New Yorkers: "Heroic efforts changed the curve. Don't underestimate what you just did." Still, we need to keep doing what we've been doing.
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