NYS Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Related Illness Affecting Children -- Hospitalizations Still Falling -- Food Distributed to 3,000 Families on Long Island

From Governor Cuomo @ 7:36 PM on May 8:

There is much about Coronavirus we still don't understand. A disturbing new development is a serious illness affecting children, known as multi-system inflammatory syndrome. The illness is potentially linked with COVID-19, and it has features that are similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Though rare, there have been 73 reported cases in New York, and, tragically, a 5-year-old passed away this past Thursday of the illness. The State Department of Health is investigating.

• Prolonged fever (more than five days)
• Difficulty feeding (infants) or is too sick to drink fluids
• Sever abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
• Change in skin color - becoming pale, patchy and/or blue
• Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly
• Racing heart or chest pain
• Decreased amount of frequency in urine
• Lethargy, irritability or confusion

Though the syndrome is rare, I nevertheless urge parents to be vigilant.

1. The state will extend the window for victims to file cases under the Child Victims Act for an additional five months until January 14, 2021. Last year, I signed the Child Victims Act to make sure survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a path to justice, including the ability to file a case which had already been time-barred or expired, but only for one year. That window was set to close August 14, 2020. Given the reduction in court services due to Coronavirus, we are extending the window to ensure that justice can still be served for these survivors.

2. New York food products were distributed to 3,000 families on Long Island today as part of the Nourish New York Initiative. This program connects upstate farms with food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries — helping ensure nutritious food doesn't go to waste during this pandemic. Today's drive-through distribution in Massapequa was hosted by the Island Harvest Food Bank. The distributed food included 15,000 pounds of mozzarella cheese from the Lactalis plant in south Buffalo.

3. The number of total COVID hospitalizations continue to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to 8,196, from 8,665 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations dropped slightly to 604, from 607 the day before.

4. Many small farms in New York are seeing a rise in business amid the pandemic. Small farms throughout New York have become a staple in feeding the community through farmers markets and other community-supported agriculture programs.

5. Today, New York announced the members of the state's Reimagine Education Advisory Council. We are so grateful to the state's teachers who rose to the occasion when school facilities closed and have been teaching students remotely — but we know there is no substitute for in-class learning. Made up of teachers, students, parents and education leaders, this council will help districts strengthen our state's schools for the challenges of today and tomorrow. See the full list of council members here.

6. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent in April. We know that the economic toll of this pandemic has been vast, and we are working around the clock to ensure that New Yorkers receive the support they need. New York has paid out $6.8 billion in unemployment benefits to 1.6 million New Yorkers. For information on expanded unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Department of Labor's website.

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo