Fifth Update, 5:55 p.m. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that Senate stimulus bill is “terrible” for New York State.
“Based on initial reports, New York State government gets approximately $3.1 billion. As a percent of our total state budget — 1.9% — it is the second lowest amount in the nation. Literally 48 states get a higher percentage in funding than New York State. For example, South Dakota gets 17.9%.
“This is despite the fact that New York State is incurring the greatest costs as we have the highest number of cases in the country. New York State has 30 times the number of cases as Texas’s 1,031. The gross political manipulation is obvious. For example, Wyoming, which only has 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, is getting 17.1 percent of their budget as a payment from the federal government. Compounding this inequity is the fact that New York State contributes more to the federal government than any other state in the nation. It is just another case of politics over sound policy.”
- If you have masks, gloves or gowns to donate, you can do so at the Suffolk County DPW Yard 97 on Crooked Hill Road, Commack.#PPE
- Pediatrician Eve Krief will talk about how to keep your family safe during the pandemic, online from 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
- The MTA announced service changes, including reduction of trains on the LIRR.
- Meantime, South Huntington school district superintendent Dr. David Bennardo said that one staff member each at Countrywood and Walt Whitman had reported testing positive for the coronavirus. Bennardo said that, on the advice of medical experts, he would continue to report cases until Saturday, 15 days after schools closed. The individuals were not symptomatic while schools were in session, and 15 days is the apparent limit for symptoms to develop.
- Former US Rep. Steve Israel and Ben’s Deli launched Chicken Soup For Health Responders with the help of the United Way of Long Island. They are funding the delivery of food to medical staff in local hospitals and made their first delivery Wednesday to Huntington Hospital. The first delivery was to Huntington Hospital Wednesday afternoon. To donate, go to www.unitedwayli.org/givechickensoup.
- Cuomo also said that 40,000 healthcare workers have registered to join the fight against the coronavirus fight. The volunteers include retirees and students. Another 6,000 mental health experts are providing online services.
- South Huntington school superintendent Dr. David Bennardo announced Tuesday that a staff member at Country Primary had reported having the coronavirus.
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The White House’s coronavirus response coordinator said Tuesday that anyone who has visited New York State recently and gone on, should self-quarantine for 14 days to reduce the the spread of the virus. “To everyone who has left New York over the last few days, because of the rate of the number of cases, you may have been exposed before you left New York,” Dr. Deborah Birx said, adding that “everybody who was in New York should be self-quarantining for the next 14 days to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread to others. No matter where they have gone, whether it’s Florida or North Carolina or out to the far reaches of Long Island,” Birx said.
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Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci again asked the public to report overcrowding or violations of social distancing recommendations at Town parks, as the Town has closed additional facilities. New Parks and Recreation facility closures include Crab Meadow Golf Course, located at 220 Waterside Road, Northport; Dix Hills Golf Course, located at 575 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills; and all basketball courts. Playgrounds and bathrooms at Town parks and beaches have been closed since Thursday, March 19. Parks remain open but Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci has urged the public to report violations of social distancing on Town property to Public Safety.
- New York City will test closing streets to vehicles while opening them to pedestrians as part of the city’s plan to address the lack of adherence to social distancing protocols. is also enacting a voluntary playground social density protocol that prohibits close contact sports such as basketball.
- “New York is the canary in the coal mine – we have the most positive cases in the nation and the most critical need for equipment and personnel,” Cuomo said. “We are doing everything we can to flatten the curve and slow the infection rate so the influx of hospitalizations doesn’t overwhelm our healthcare system. Thousands of New Yorkers have selflessly volunteered to be part of our surge healthcare force and support the hospital surge capacity, but we need more ventilators and more hospital beds now, and we need the help of the federal government to get them. Different regions have different curves at different times, but New York is first, and once we get through this we can use our experience and supplies to help other states to get through this pandemic.”
- The governor also announced that the Four Seasons Hotel on 57th street in Manhattan is the first of several hotels that is providing housing for nurses, doctors, and medical personnel. The 350-room hotel will provide medical personnel working to respond to the coronavirus outbreak lodging free of charge.
- Cuomo confirmed 5,146 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 30,811 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 30,811 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
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County
Total Positive
New Positive
Albany
152
6
Allegany
2
0
Broome
11
2
Cayuga
2
0
Chautauqua
1
1
Chemung
1
0
Chenango
3
0
Clinton
10
2
Columbia
12
1
Cortland
2
0
Delaware
5
2
Dutchess
153
29
Erie
122
15
Essex
4
1
Franklin
1
1
Fulton
1
0
Genesee
2
1
Greene
4
0
Hamilton
2
0
Herkimer
5
1
Jefferson
2
0
Livingston
3
0
Madison
7
2
Monroe
118
22
Montgomery
4
1
Nassau
3285
416
Niagara
12
1
NYC
17856
2952
Oneida
9
1
Onondaga
65
5
Ontario
9
2
Orange
638
140
Orleans
2
0
Oswego
2
0
Otsego
2
1
Putnam
84
17
Rensselaer
31
1
Rockland
968
297
Saratoga
64
4
Schenectady
55
9
Schoharie
2
1
St. Lawrence
1
0
Steuben
8
3
Suffolk
2260
380
Sullivan
39
9
Tioga
1
0
Tompkins
16
0
Ulster
65
18
Warren
2
0
Washington
4
1
Wayne
7
1
Westchester
4691
800
Wyoming
4
0
