May 14, 2020
From Governor Cuomo @ 7:09 PM on May 14:
As some regions begin the reopening phase, it bears repeating: The Coronavirus pandemic is not "over." We are still seeing over 2,000 new cases on a daily basis. How quickly the state can reopen and how successful we are in this process depends on the efforts of all New Yorkers. You've heard me say it too many times to count, but I'll say it one more time: Wash your hands, wear a mask in public, practice social distancing and remember that you can help protect and safeguard your own health and the health of your neighbors.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. Central New York is the fifth region to begin reopening Friday, May 15th. Along with the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, the North Country and Mohawk Valley, this region has met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state's regional phased reopening plan. Phase one includes reopening construction, manufacturing, retail for curbside and in-store pickup, agriculture, forestry and fishing.
2. The number of total COVID hospitalizations are still dropping. Total hospitalizations fell to 6,706, from 6,946 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations rose slightly to 420, from 416 the day before. Tragically, we lost 157 New Yorkers to this vicious virus yesterday.
3. The State is now investigating 110 reported cases of a potentially COVID-related inflammatory illness in children. Today, New York issued first-in-the-nation criteria to healthcare professionals that defines what symptoms healthcare providers should look for and provides a case definition. Case definitions help standardize tracking and reporting and can help ensure a better health outcome.
4. Testing capacity continues to ramp up. Yesterday, New York State tested 39,850 people for Coronavirus. Of those tested, 2,390 were positive for the virus. To date, the state has tested 1,298,757 people — a little under 7% of the statewide population. You can follow daily testing data on our COVID Tracker website.
5. The MTA has received a crucial injection of $3.9 billion in federal funds. President Trump expedited the distribution following my request. This funding is critical for the transportation agency, which is cleaning subways every 24 hours and continuing the service that essential workers rely on to get to their jobs, even as they face a massive drop in overall ridership.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": On Tuesday, the Susquehanna SPCA held a socially distanced dog parade to bring cheer to the residents and staff of the Chestnut Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Oneonta, NY.
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