New York has been aggressively testing frontline workers. After testing approximately 27,000 employees across 25 downstate health care facilities for COVID-19 antibodies, we found some hopeful results. The survey showed that the infection rate among health care workers is about the same, or even lower, than the infection rate of the general population. That's good news because it suggests that when the protocols that medical workers know to take — including proper hand washing, wearing masks and gloves — are followed, the virus can be held at bay. We need everyone to all follow these protocols whether they are in the medical field or simply out in public. Precautionary measures such as hand washing with soap, wearing masks and refraining from touching your face are effective tools in preventing the virus from spreading. So we need all New Yorkers to diligently follow these simple practices.
Photo of the Day: To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, the Empire State Building was lit magenta on Tuesday
(Courtesy Empire State Realty Trust) Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. The state's moratorium on COVID-related residential and commercial evictions will be extended until August 20. New York is also banning fees for late or missed payments during the eviction moratorium. Renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are also allowed to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time.
2. "Nourish New York" is making sure food doesn't go to waste and instead goes to people who are in need. The new initiative helps to address two problems at once: excess agricultural products at New York farms and food insecurity. To date, food and products have been purchased from more than 2,100 Upstate farms and nearly 50 food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries have been supported. We are asking philanthropies that want to help in this effort to please email COVID19Philanthropies@exec.ny.gov.
3. The number of total COVID hospitalizations fell again yesterday. Total hospitalizations fell to 8,665, from 9,179 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations rose slightly to 607, from 601 the day before. Tragically, 231 New Yorkers were lost to COVID-19 yesterday.
4. Monroe County is giving away 1 million face masks. Residents of Monroe County can pick up free masks at over 20 locations on Saturday, May 9, between 10am - 2pm, or on Wednesday, May 13 (same hours). The City of Rochester will publicly distribute masks at a later date.
5. The Queens Public Library is documenting stories of New York City residents during Coronavirus. Through the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project, the library aims to create a historical record of how New Yorkers are experiencing this pandemic.
6. Pfizer has begun human clinical trials for a Coronavirus vaccine. The pharmaceutical company is conducting the trials at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Like all restaurants during "New York on PAUSE," the Grotto, a restaurant in downtown Buffalo, is closed for in-person dining. To help make their takeout operation more entertaining, especially for their youngest patrons, the Grotto's staff dressed as characters from "Beauty and the Beast" and gave a show while carrying the food to waiting cars.
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