Cuomo, de Blasio urge calm in wake of New York’s first confirmed coronavirus case
NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered a unified message for the state in the wake of its first confirmed case of coronavirus: Relax.
The two men, in a rare joint appearance, sought to reassure New Yorkers that city and state health officials were working together to stem the spread of the virus — one they both emphasized was not life-threatening for otherwise healthy adults and children.
“We should relax, because that’s what’s dictated by the reality of the situation,” Cuomo said from his Manhattan office Monday where he and de Blasio were flanked by their respective health commissioners.
“This is not something you get from casual contact,” de Blasio added. “This is something you get from prolonged exposure.”
The state and city, despite rhetoric aimed at preventing mass panic, are taking extra precautions to cut down on exposure and the spread of germs, as well as preparing for more serious health problems brought on by coronavirus.
The state aims to reach capacity of 1,000 tests per day within a week, up from several hundred, Cuomo said. The FDA authorized New York to test locally for the virus on Saturday, which allows public health laboratories across the state to get results for coronavirus within hours — compared to about 24 hours when samples are tested at the CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta. New York City’s testing will be up and running by Friday, the mayor said.
“Test as many as you can, and then isolate those people so you do reduce the spread,” Cuomo said. “That’s what this is about: reduce the spread, not eliminate the spread.”
New York’s first confirmed coronavirus case may offer some insight into the severity of the virus.
Two married health care workers who traveled from Iran to New York are under self-quarantine in their Manhattan home after Mount Sinai tested and confirmed the wife had contracted the virus, which presents like the common cold or flu, Cuomo said. The 39-year-old’s husband is likely to have contracted the virus as well, the governor said, but is also at home. His test results are pending, according to the city health department.
“The health care worker has manifested some respiratory illnesses,” Cuomo said. “She’s not hospitalized even though she has tested positive for the virus.”
Cuomo and de Blasio said 80 percent of coronavirus cases “self-resolve” and don’t require further hospitalization. Referring to the disease as “the flu on steroids,” officials urged people to take similar precautions: frequently wash your hands and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough.
But de Blasio insisted anyone who suspects they may have symptoms seek medical attention immediately. He repeated his appeal to New Yorkers who either can’t afford or are otherwise unable to seek care: call 311.
“We will help you get to the health care you need. If we need to send someone to you, we will send someone to you,” the mayor said. “No one should hesitate. The best thing you can do for yourself, your family, all fellow New Yorkers — get to health care immediately if you think you have that need.”
NYC Health + Hospitals, the city-subsidized public health system, treats patients regardless of their citizenship status or ability to pay.
Federal officials recently expanded the testing criteria to include anyone who has traveled from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy and other European and Asian countries.
The city’s “disease detectives” are also reaching out to the passengers on the health care worker’s plane — Cuomo did not immediately have more information about the flight — and the black car driver who picked her up at the airport, officials said.
The state will enact new protocols to clean public transportation, schools and school buses with bleach to better prevent the spread of germs. They will also focus on facilities that treat “senior citizens, debilitated people or immune-compromised people,” Cuomo said.
For now, officials said they have more than sufficient stockpiles of masks, ventilators, beds and other medical supplies from which to draw down.
While Cuomo has repeatedly mentioned productive conversations with Vice President Mike Pence, who was recently appointed as the federal coronavirus czar, he said the Trump administration will have to offer significantly more aid as the virus continues to spread.
Asked if the federal government was currently doing enough, Cuomo said, “No. No, no, no.”
He is pushing for a $40 million emergency appropriation from the state Legislature in the short term — which will fund additional staff and equipment — but said he’s hoping the federal government will pick up the bill.
The feds, meanwhile, haven’t put a price tag on the expected cost or agreed to reimburse states for their efforts to deal with the virus.
“This is going to be expensive for the state, for the city,” Cuomo said.