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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Statement from Dani Lever, Governor Cuomo’s Communications Director. April 9, 2020:
STATEMENT FROM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR DANI LEVER ON UPDATES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S ONLINE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FILING SYSTEM
“Earlier today, the Department of Labor announced that its online unemployment insurance application would shut down at 5:00 PM to allow for critical upgrades as part of their comprehensive ‘Tech Surge.’
Every evening, this online system closes from 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM to allow the DOL’s database to process applications.
As we are currently migrating to a new system today, applications will be accepted beginning at 7:30 AM tomorrow.
When New Yorkers log in to the Department of Labor’s system tomorrow, they will find a new, improved and more user-friendly application allowing them to better access the benefits they deserve.”
Note: to access the new system and make a new application for unemployment benefits at 7:30 AM tomorrow, go to www.labor.ny.gov
UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO TIME APPLIED FOR; 600,000 PROCESSED. WILL NOT OPEN UP METRO AREA UNTIL THE DATA SAYS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. NEW STATE UNEMPLOYMENT REPORTING SYSTEM DEBUTS TONIGHT AT 7
ON REOPENING FOR BUSINESS: “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’D POLITICALLY LIKE. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU HOPE. YOU MAKE THE DECISION ON THE DATA.”
GOVERNOR: NEED TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE SECOND WAVE SUCH AS IS OCCURRING IN WUHAN.
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey. April 9,2020:
Governor Andrew Cuomo said today that the rate of
coronavirus was continuing to go down based on the overnight numbers from
Wednesday, but cautioned New Yorkers they had to continue social distancing and
staying home, otherwise he warned we risk a new wave of increases.
LIVE VIDEO OF GOVERNOR CUOMO ANALYSIS OF WHERE THE STATE IS AT ON CORONAVIRUS (ALBANY FEED)
He announced there were 799 more deaths from coronavirus
yesterday bring deaths to 7,067. He said the only way he sleeps at night is the
belief the health care system “saved all who could be saved.”
By WPCNR estimate Total coronavirus infections in the state
by yesterday’s rate of infections, 10.3%, the total infections in New York
would climb to 165,000, which is strictly a WPCNR estimate and unofficial.
The infection rate had slowed from 10.7% Monday down to 10.3% Tuesday. So it may have slowed more than
that. No totals of infections by county were reported. The Governor said he is
concerned about the growth in infections in Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk
counties.
The Governor announced that the state is asking persons who have survived coronavirus to donate blood to be able to initiate plasma infusions to treat new coronavirus patients.
He also has formed a new umbrella organization “NYLOVES” to coordinate all philanthropic and social service agencies who want to donate services to contact, so aid can be organized.
In the reporters’ “Q & A”, the Governor said he would cut raises estimated at 2% to conserve on the budget deficit, instead of layoffs. The budget director again said the state faces a $16 Billion deficit in revenue.
The Governor described the damage to the New York economy as far worse than the economic losses suffered on the 9/11 attacks in 2001. He did note that the coronavirus silently without explosions has killed 7,067 New Yorkers more double the deaths on that day.
He pleaded with citizens not to risk the lives of others by relaxing social distancing and leaving their homes.
He noted the Los Angeles Times report of a second wave of coronavirus erupting in Wuhan, China, as one of the possibilities New York must be prepared to handle again this year. He recommended a consortium of states be formed to share medical resources rather than competing with each other.
Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor said that the State Labor Department phones would be down between 5 and 7 PM tonight, with the installation of a new telephone system, that would eliminate the need to call back to provide missing information. DeRosa said previously the applicant had to call-in the missing information, now the new procedure is the Department of Labor will call you. She said 1,000 persons had been added to process the claims. To date the Labor Department, she said had received 800,000 applications, and 600,000 had been processed.
The new system will begin operations at 7:30 A.M., tomorrow morning. Dani Lever, the Cuomo Administration Communications Director said in this statement:
“Earlier today, the Department of Labor announced that its online unemployment insurance application would shut down at 5:00 PM to allow for critical upgrades as part of their comprehensive ‘Tech Surge.’
Every evening, this online system closes from 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM to allow the DOL’s database to process applications.
As we are currently migrating to a new system today, applications will be accepted beginning at 7:30 AM tomorrow.
When New Yorkers log in to the Department of Labor’s system tomorrow, they will find a new, improved and more user-friendly application allowing them to better access the benefits they deserve.”
Ms. DeRosa said that no matter when an unemployed person received their first check, the amount would be retroactive to the date the individual first applied for unemployment.
In view of the small amount of medical aid provided New York in the coronavirus relief bill passed by Washington, that did not cover Medicaid expenses from being reimbursed–the governor hoped that NY representatives would work hard to deliver more aid to relieve NY economic losses in revenue.
Asked by a reporter as he was leaving the daily news conference, “How much confidence do you have you’ll be getting that (more aid).” The Governor said, “Not confident.”
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. By John F. Bailey. April 9, 2020:
Governor Andrew Cuomo Wednesday announced that absentee ballots would be available as a voting alternative for voters not wishing to appear in person at the polls for the June 23 primary for state, local and presidential elections because of the danger of exposing themselves to crowds at the primary places. (Though at this time, since Bernie Sanders has pulled out of the Presidential race, there may not be a Democratic Presidential Primary. Unclear at this time.)
In order to obtain an absentee ballot, each registered voter wishing to vote in the primary for the Democratic nomination for the House of Representatives, the 17th Congressional District, being vacated by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, where 12 persons are contending, and the 93rd Assembly District Seat representing White Plains and south to Yonkers, and northeast to Bedford, where 5 persons are in contention the procedure to obtain an absentee ballot is as follows.
You must fill out an application requesting an absentee ballot.
According to the Board of Elections, whom I contacted to request my absentee ballot this morning, you can request any number of applications by calling the Westchester County Board of Elections at 995-2000 and asking for the Board of Elections, listening to the “prompt” and pressing the number for absentee ballots.
Or you may drop in in person at 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains NY 10601, and fill out the applications in person., or mail a request for absentee ballots to that address c/o The Board of Elections
The Board of Elections will mail the applications to you to complete for the absentee ballots one per person, for either the Presidential or State and Local Primaries, or both.
The Board of Elections will mail you the applications. When you receive them, you and other voters wishing to vote by absentee must complete and return them and the Board of Elections will send you absentee ballots by return mail. You may request applications for any registered voters in your family.
The Board of Elections told WPCNR this morning the absentee ballots will be mailed out by March 23, approximately one month before the primary.
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From COVID-19 DATA TRACKER (Mathby WPCNR) . APRIL 8, 2020:
The State as of Wednesday had 149,316 coronavirus cases. This is up 10,453 from Tuesday, a daily rate of increase of 7.5%.
NEW YORK CITY has 81,803 postive coronavirus cases, up 6.4% from Tuesday total of 76,876, up 4,927. Borough by borough, The Bronx has 16,626 cases; Manhattan, 11,504; Brooklyn 22,082; Staten Island 5,343 and Queens, 26,248. The city is down in the day to day rate of increase to 6.4% from 6.6 yesterday.
As of 12 noon today, local surrounding county totals are as follows:
WESTCHESTER COUNTY SAW A 7.3% INCREASE OF 1,083 NEW CASES TO 15,887. That 7.3% is double the county 3.6% increase Monday.
NASSAU COUNTY ROSE 11.7% TO 18,548 FROM 16,610 YESTERDAY. That is compared to 6.3% day to day rate of increase on Monday
SUFFOLK COUNTY IS UP 9.1% TO 15,844 FROM 14,517. (NASSAU AND SUFFOLK ARE BEING STRICKEN HARD.)Suffolk was up in cases in rate of day to day increase Tuesday from 7.6% Monday
ROCKLAND COUNTY INCREASED CASES 7% TO 6,413 FROM 5,990. Rockland rose in day to day rate of increase from 5% Monday
DUTCHESS COUNTY ROSE TO 1,395 WITH 146 NEW CASES, A DAY TO DAY INCREASE OF 11.7%, up from 5% Monday.
ULSTER SUFFERED 7.2% MORE CASES TO 422 , UP FROM 399 YESTERDAY. Ulster rate of day to day increase rose from 5% Monday
ORANGE COUNTY ROSE 7.3% TO 3,865 FROM 3,599. Orange was rising 6% Monday, and Tuesday rose to 7.3%
ROCKLAND, DUTCHESS, ULSTER, AND ORANGE ARE ALL INCREASING AT AN AVERAGE 8.3% AND ARE ON AN WORRYING TREND
New York state now has 149,316 cases. The total number tested in the County is nearing 50,000 and the positive number of cases in the county is 15,887. The municipality specific data we received from the county today indicates 485 positive cases in White Plains.
Today I had the opportunity to tour the temporary hospital at the County Center in White Plains with County Executive George Latimer and our Fire Chief, Richard Lyman. It is an impressive facility with fully equipped individual negative pressure patient rooms that are capable of serving as ICU beds. The hospital is within our city and we are working closely with all involved to ensure it is on line as quickly as possible.
White Plains is a community of neighborhoods. Please check in on your neighbors who might not be able to go to the store to get food.
Please reach out to: feedingwp@whiteplainsny.gov if you can afford food but are homebound and can’t arrange delivery or if you can go out, but are having difficulty affording food we can put you in touch with the many ongoing food distributions taking place throughout the city.
A reminder regarding the sanitation schedule. For those of you who are on the Friday garbage route, your garbage will be picked up tomorrow, Thursday, due to Friday’s holiday. If you are on a Thursday collection route your next pick up is Monday. There is no paper pick up this week. Normally we would have reminded you yesterday, sorry for the oversight. I can’t wait to get back to a time when that is the reason for my call. We would also suggest that you download the White Plains DPW, At Your Service App and set the preferences to allow automatic reminders.
We are making progress, stay with it!
And to all of our friends celebrating, best wishes for a happy and meaningful Passover.
Remember we are standing together by staying apart!
Bulletin: GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ALL NEW YORK STATE VOTERS COULD VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE JUNE 23 STATE PRIMARIES. The Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa stated the phrase relating to illness in the election law was the legal basis for the decision. The governor said there was no point in forcing citizens to put themselves at risk of encountering the coronavirus by going to the polls.
GOVERNOR SHOWED HOW HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE SLOWED FOR 3RD STRAIGHT DAYTHE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED SORROW TO THE CITY PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DIED OF THE CORONAVIRUS.THESE ARE SOME OF THEM. EVERY FACE REPRESENTS A FAMILY AND LOVED ONES WHO GRIEVE OVER THEIR LOSS, THE GOVERNOR REMINDED US.
WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. April 8, 2020, UPDATED 10 P.M.E.D.T.:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reported a continuation of what the state is seeing in numbers of hospitalizations, and number of cases yesterday which marked the fourth straight day the number cases stayed even.
The Governor attributed this to the public observing the state wide social distancing, school closings, business closings as the reasons why the curve is being contained.
As of 12 noon today, local county totals are as follows:
WESTCHESTER COUNTY SAW A 7.3% INCREASE OF 1,083 NEW CASES TO 15,887.
NASSAU COUNTY ROSE 11.7% TO 18,548 FROM 16,610 YESTERDAY.
SUFFOLK COUNTY IS UP 9.1% TO 15,844 FROM 14,517. (NASSAU AND SUFFOLK ARE BEING STRICKEN HARD.)
ROCKLAND COUNTY INCREASED CASES 7% TO 6,413 FROM 5,990.
DUTCHESS COUNTY ROSE TO 1,395 WITH 146 NEW CASES, A DAY TO DAY INCREASE OF 11.7%
ULSTER SUFFERED 7.2% MORE CASES TO 422 , UP FROM 399 YESTERDAY.
ORANGE COUNTY ROSE 7.3% TO 3,865 FROM 3,599.
ROCKLAND, DUTCHESS, ULSTER, AND ORANGE ARE ALL INCREASING AT AN AVERAGE 8.3% AND ARE ON AN WORRYING TREND
He ended the “Q. & A.” with reporters Governor Cuomo saying: “what is being seen is people who were hospitalized 10 days ago are dying” and expected higher deaths to come. “Keep doing what you are doing, this is not over. We are in the midst of this.” He noted that by distancing and staying home, “the live you save may not be your own.”
He declined to offer a date when he expected to lift social distancing rules and closures of schools, suspension of large gatherings (including church services), currently in the 38th day.
He said he had no projection date as to when it would be lifted and repeated that Connecticut and New Jersey and New York would lift the closures and social distancing as a team.
He said there were no shortages of equipment, and that he was confident the state had enough hospital beds to handle the current influx of new cases which he expected would spreatd upstate.
The Governor began saying this was a day of mixed emotions. There is good news, but the bad news is 779 persons in New York died yesterday. He noted the total deaths in New York State is 6,268 (updated on CNN WEDNESDAY EVENING), double the deaths in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. He prepared the state to accept many more deaths to come, showing the toll of the last 5 days, 3,895. He saluted city workers and health professionals who have died of the coronavirus.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD DIRECT THE STATE OF NEW YORK SUNY TO DETERMINE NOW WHY MINORITIES ARE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE DYING FROM CORONAVIRUS CASH NOW TO THE UNEMPLOYED: THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE STATE WOULD ISSUE $600 CHECKS NOW AND EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS TO 39 WEEKS.THE GOVERNOR NOTED WHAT WE MUST TAKE FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND IMPROVE UPON
WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORTFrom Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 7, 2020:
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner issued an Emergency order earlier imposing health and safety requirements on all grocery stores (supermarkets) and pharmacies located within the town of Greenburgh.
The law applies to businesses other than restaurants which have more than 1,000 square feet of space in which food is sold to the public (other than restaurants. At the special Town Board work session on April 7th at 6:30 PM the Town Board unanimously approved a resolution support the emergency order.
(a) establish at least one hour a day during which the store is open only to customers over 60 years of age who do not exhibit COVID-19 health conditions;
(b) limit the number of customers allowed in the store at any one time to a reasonable number, given the size of the store, to accommodate the CDC-recommended 6 foot physical distancing;
(c) mark six-foot distancing lines outside the entrance to the store and at check-out counters, provide sufficient personnel to remind customers to observe such markings, and provide appropriate signage of the distance markings;
(d) provide hand sanitizers and/or fresh, unused gloves and, if available, face masks for each employee each day, and require them to be used while working, and post COVID-19 health safety guidelines, including re hand washing, for employees;
(e) provide either fresh, unused gloves or sanitizing wipes to customers prior to entering the store;
(f) if the store has carts for customer use, wipe the cart handles between use by different customers;
and
(g) provide a receptacle at all exits outside the store for the disposal of gloves and masks, labelled “used masks and gloves”, and, if feasible, establish one-way aisles inside the store and separate entrances/exits for customers.
The Police Department and Building Department are authorized to enforce this Local Emergency Order 1.1 in the following manner:
For the first violation, the Police or Building Department shall issue a Notice of Violation. For any subsequent violations, the Police or Building Department shall issue a Summons alleging a Class B misdemeanor as provided in Section 24(5) of the New York State Executive Law. The Town shall cause the names of those businesses to be posted on the Town website, which posting shall remain until the Chief of Police or Building Commissioner determines that the violation has been rectified.
This Local Emergency Order 1.1 shall become effective at 6:00 am, Friday, April 10, 2020. The statute orders have to be renewed or amended or extended every five days.
Given (a) the recent CDC research indicating that the vast majority of transmissions of the COVID-19 virus occur from symptomatic individuals, (b) the temperature-taking safety practice instituted by the retailers WalMart and Sam’s Club, and (c) the New York policy of responsibility of not exposing others to the COVID-19 virus, Notice is hereby given that it is my present intent, if I determine circumstances require this Order to be extended, to provide in the extended Order that grocery stores and pharmacies adopt the safety practice of non-invasive temperature taking of employees upon arrival at work and not allowing any individual with a temperature higher than the CDC guideline of 100.4F/38C to work. Notice is also given that Supervisor Feiner is additionally considering providing in the extended Order that grocery stores and pharmacies use non-invasive devices to take the temperatures of customers before they enter the store. He welcomes input on these safety practices, or alternative safety measures, from grocery stores and pharmacies and from residents.
I plan to contact the Governor’s office and Health departments and will likely require the non invasive temperature requirement next week when the order is extended unless I receive written notification from them that this cannot be done.
