Cuomo said the data shows that the virus is spreading in homes and communities, not just from people who have traveled or been to large gatherings. He urged New Yorkers to continue following social distancing guidelines and wearing masks when out in public.
“This is a wake-up call,” Cuomo said. “We all have to be more vigilant.”
The governor also announced that New York will begin testing wastewater for traces of the virus as an early warning system for potential outbreaks. The state will also expand contact tracing efforts, including hiring 1,000 additional tracers and launching a new mobile app to help track contacts of those infected with Covid-19.
The data showed that the mortality rate for patients who received hydroxychloroquine was 14.3%, compared to a mortality rate of 26.4% for those who did not receive the drug. Cuomo said the results were “very encouraging” and that the state would continue to monitor the data as it comes in from other hospitals.
This suggests that the majority of new admissions were from people who had been sheltering at home, likely due to the fact that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. This could be due to a combination of factors, such as limited access to healthcare services, difficulty in adhering to social distancing guidelines, and increased risk of infection due to close contact with other residents.
Cuomo said the state is now working to make sure nursing homes are better prepared for future outbreaks.
“We’re going to do a full investigation of every single nursing home in the state, and we’re going to make sure that they have the resources they need,” Cuomo said. “We’re also going to look at how we can improve our protocols and procedures for dealing with these facilities.”
The study also found that the majority of people who tested positive for the virus were not hospitalized.
“We found that only about 10 percent of those who tested positive for COVID-19 were hospitalized,” said Dr. David Rubin, a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the authors of the study. “That’s much lower than we expected.”
The governor said the data showed that the virus was disproportionately impacting communities of color, with African Americans making up 28% of hospitalizations and Latinos making up 40%. He noted that those two groups make up only 18% and 29%, respectively, of the state’s population. Cuomo said this was a “stark reminder” of the need to address underlying health disparities in these communities.
He added that the data also shows that those who are hospitalized are more likely to be older, have underlying health conditions, and live in poverty. He noted that this is concerning because it suggests that these populations may be more vulnerable to the virus and may need additional resources and support.
But he said the data shows that most of those hospitalized are people who are not essential workers, and many of them are elderly. He said this is a reminder that everyone needs to take the virus seriously and follow social distancing guidelines. Cuomo also noted that the state has seen an increase in hospitalizations among younger people, which he attributed to increased social gatherings. He urged New Yorkers to continue to practice social distancing and wear masks when out in public.
Cuomo urged New Yorkers to wear masks, practice social distancing, and stay home as much as possible. He also said that people should avoid large gatherings and limit their contact with others. He added that people should get tested for COVID-19 if they have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has the virus.
The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to practice social distancing, wear a face covering when in public, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, and stay home if you are feeling sick.
The governor’s comments come as the state is in the midst of a massive vaccination effort. As of Monday, more than 8 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in New York, according to Cuomo’s office.
Cuomo has also been pushing for an increase in federal funding for states to help with their vaccination efforts. Last week, he called on Congress to pass a $15 billion relief package for states and localities that are struggling to pay for their vaccine programs.
The governor said the state is now focusing on increasing testing capacity, which he said was key to controlling the spread of the virus. He said the state had already increased its testing capacity by more than 50 percent since April and was now aiming to double it again by mid-July. He also announced a new initiative to provide free antibody tests for all New Yorkers.
Cuomo also warned that while progress has been made, New Yorkers must remain vigilant in order to keep the virus under control. He urged people to continue wearing masks, washing their hands, and practicing social distancing. He also encouraged people to get tested if they have any symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
It is important to note that the survey results do not necessarily contradict Cuomo’s prior assurances. The survey results suggest that people are still engaging in activities that could increase their risk of contracting the virus, such as attending large gatherings or not wearing masks. This does not mean that isolation cannot reliably prevent transmission; it simply means that people are not following the guidelines set forth by Cuomo and other health officials. It is possible that if more people followed these guidelines, the rate of transmission would decrease even further.
The total number of confirmed cases in New York now stands at more than 200,000. The state has seen more than 15,000 deaths from the virus since the outbreak began. Cuomo said that while the number of new cases is declining, it is still too early to declare victory over the virus. He urged people to continue to practice social distancing and wear masks when out in public.
Cuomo said that the state is preparing for a “worst-case scenario” and that the state is taking steps to prepare for the potential impact of the virus. He said that the state has already begun to increase testing capacity, and that it is working with hospitals to ensure they have enough beds and supplies. He also said that the state is working with local governments to ensure they are prepared for any potential outbreak.