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Black Coffee from Governor Cuomo: Calls on Americans to Support Each Other In Face of Coronavirus Pandemic
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Reminds Citizens They are not Alone During National Moment of Stress and Emotion
VIDEO of the Governor’s remarks is available on YouTube here
“We talk about this as a government response. The federal government is doing this. The state government is doing this. Government, government, government. This manifests on a number of levels and the government response is obviously very important.
But the impact I think is greater and probably greatest as a social phenomenon and on people and on families. This is tremendously disruptive on all sorts of levels. It came out of the blue. For me, in New York, it reminds me of 9/11 where one moment, which was inconceivable, just changed everything, changed your perspective on the world, changed your perspective on safety. Children who were young at that time, but of school age, watched on TV. They did not know if their parents were coming home. I think it changed their whole outlook on life after 9/11.
This is a situation like that. It is obviously a totally different magnitude, but it’s like that, it’s a moment that just changes your whole life. Yesterday, you were going to work and you were going to go to the office party. Today, you are at home and the kids are at home. You are worried about health, you are worried about your job and you are worried about economics. And you are dealing with personal issues and you are dealing with family issues – and it is all happening at once. Then you turn on the TV and there is all this different information and nobody can tell you this is going to be 30 days or 60 days or 4 months, 5 months, 9 months.
The stress, the emotion, is just incredible, and rightfully so. It is a situation that is one of the most disruptive that I have seen, and it will change almost everything going forward. It will. That is a fact. It’s not your perception. It’s not just you. It’s all of us and it’s true and it’s real. Nobody can tell you when this is going to end. Nobody can tell you. I talked to all the experts. Nobody can say two months, four months, nine months – nobody.
It’s hard living your life with that big a question mark out there. Nobody can tell you when you’ll go back to work. People can tell you that it’s not just you economically. It’s everyone. Take comfort in that federal government is actually acting on an economic package. But it’s true, having your family all together is a beautiful thing. It’s also different for a lot of people, especially for a prolonged period of time.
So these are major shifts in life and in the most emotional, stressful conditions that you can imagine and I think my own personal advice is understand it for what it is and that it’s not just you. It has changed everything and it will for the foreseeable future and think through how you’re going to deal with it and what it means and even try to find a positive in it, right?
It’s a very negative circumstance but you’re going to have time on your hands. You’re going to have time with your family. You’re going to have time at home in this busy hurry-up world, all of a sudden somebody said you have a couple of months where you’re going to be home with the family, no work, you work from home, but it’s a totally different situation. How do you use that? How do you adjust? It’s not going to be done overnight but it is something that everybody has to think through.
Bedford’s Burdick: County Moves to Aid Towns, Cities Countywide in CoronaVirus Control and Treatment. SUPPLYING HASMET SUITS & EQUIPMENT ON REQUEST. TOWNS LIMITED IN SUPPLYING INFO ON CORONAPOSITIVE PERSONS. COUNTY BUDGET “BLOWN.”
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Bedford Town Supervisor Chris Burdick. March 19, 2020:
In an email to the press last night. Town Supervisor Chris Burdick of Bedford advised residents how Westchester County is aiding towns in taking measures against the spread of coronavirus., based on County Executive George Latimer’s visit to the Bedford “zoom” Town Board Meeting and the County Executive’s remarks.
The takeaway: The state will decide on locations to add hospital beds; the county is supplying HASMET equipment to towns/cities on request. The county has required towns and cities not to disclose names and locations of corona positive persons, and that the County Budget forecast is now “blown.” Here is Mr. Burdick’s summary of what the County Executive said.
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- State of Emergency and Emergency Orders (EO) The County Executive explained that the Governor’s emergency orders in large measure preempt the County and local governments from issuing emergency orders regarding the same matters, including closure of any businesses other than those which the Governor closed under EO (e.g., restaurants, bars, gyms); and curfews.
- Mobil Testing Units/Hospital Beds The County is working with NYS to identify sites to house mobile units to test individuals for presence of the virus. The tests will be very quick so that many can be handled in a short time. NYS will make the decisions and announcements of sites. Given the anticipated shortage of hospital beds, the County also will be working with NYS to identify sites for additional beds.
- Disclosure of Individuals Tested Positive HIPPA and other patient privacy rules strictly limit the disclosure of the identity of individuals tested positive. The County requires that the chief elected official and Police Chief sign a non-disclosure agreement to the effect that the municipality may not disclose the identity of such individuals following the County providing such identities to the municipality except to prevent or lessen “a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the Municipality’s residents.”
We have been advised that one resident of Bedford has tested positive. In order to safeguard EMS personnel, the County’s system for dispatching EMS (known as 60 Control) will identify whether a call is to an individual who has tested positive so the EMS responder can take special protective measures.
- County Assistance to Municipalities The County is tasked with getting personal protective equipment (PPE) and distributing them. The County has arranged for municipalities to submit requests for certain PPE and sanitizers.
- Severe Financial Impact on Budgets CE Latimer observed that we are in economic free fall and we’re at the front end of the bell curve. The County’s budget is blown. It is not possible at this point to assess the impact.
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SEND HOSPITAL SHIP TO NYC-INCREASING HOSPITAL BEDS/CARE BY 1,000, arriving in April; PRESIDENT COMMITS TO MILITARY MOBILE HOSPITALS TO REGION.
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GOVERNOR Issues Executive Order Directing Non-Essential Businesses to Implement Work from Home Policies Effective Friday, March 20
Businesses that Require In-Office Personnel Must Decrease In-Office Workforce by 50 Percent
Exceptions Made for Essential Services — Including Shipping Industry, Warehouses, Grocery and Food Production, Pharmacies, Media, Banks and Related Financial Institutions, and Businesses Essential to Supply Chain
Confirms 1,008 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 2,382; New Cases in 20 Counties
Governor Meeting Today with Army Corp of Engineers to Discuss Hospital Surge Capacity
WHITE PLAINS TV NOTIFICATION
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Due to state restrictions, we will be closed to the public until further notice. There will be staff in the office in the mean time to answer any questions you may have. Please call (914) 422-1419 for any assistance.
We will still be cablecasting programs and our website will have all of our programs also at wpcommunitymedia.org
Governor Cuomo on His Talk with President Trump: Army Corps of Engineers “Coming In Tomorrow.”
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office. March 18, 2020:
AUDIO & RUSH TRANSCRIPT: GOVERNOR CUOMO IS A GUEST ON MSNBC WITH RACHEL MADDOW AND BRIAN WILLIAMS
Governor Cuomo: “I had a very good conversation with the President where I said, look, forget Democrat and Republican. We’re Americans and we’re talking life and death. We’re going to have a tragedy in this state. We have the highest number of cases in the United States. We are going to have a real tragedy where people die because they couldn’t get the right health care. And I need the help of the federal government – I need that partnership.
I said I put out my hand in partnership. I want to work with you. I’ll be a good partner. I need your help. Let’s do what we were elected to do. Let’s fulfill our constitutional duty and the President said yes.”
Cuomo: “I believe he’s sincere. More than just belief, he has acted on it, Rachel. I spoke to the Secretary of Defense today. I got a call from the White House team late last night, early this morning. I have the Army Corps of Engineers coming in here tomorrow.”
WESTMED UPDATED ADVISORY ON APPOINTMENTS, PRACTICES TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Westmed. March 18, 2020:
Editor’s Note: This is a letter from the CEO of Westrmed
Last week, I sent an update regarding coronavirus and Westmed’s ongoing efforts to provide uninterrupted access to care for patients during this challenging time.
Though only a few days have passed since my last update, we have seen a growing rate of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in our local community, and believe that to make a greater impact in flattening the curve of disease spread, we must take swift action.
Beginning today, Westmed will temporarily close several site locations throughout Westchester and Fairfield, including the postponement of elective procedures, and reduction in overall volume of in-person visits at the offices that will remain open at this time.
You can find a full list of office locations and departments that will remain open by visiting this link. This decision is in-keeping with the recommendations for disease mitigation strategies aspublished by the CDC, and supports our nation’s shared efforts to practice social distancing and meant to prevent the ongoing spread of COVID-19.
Once again, while office visits will be limited for the near future, we encourage you to use our Virtual Visit services offered by Westmed Urgent Care, Primary Care Providers, and Specialists. You can request a Virtual Visit with a Primary Care Provider or Specialist by simply calling your provider’s office and requesting a “Virtual Visit” when you speak with an associate. In addition, Westmed Virtual Urgent Care Visits are also available 7 days/week from 9am-6pm for patients seeking on-demand access to quality care. We have developed this instructional guide for you to use to join your visit from your mobile or desktop device, if you are scheduled for an upcoming Primary Care or Specialty Care Virtual Visit. We do understand that telehealth is not appropriate for all of our patients and will do our best to accommodate in-person visits on a limited basis.
We sincerely apologize that you may be inconvenienced by cancellations or rescheduling. As always, we encourage you to reach out to your provider via phone or through the My Westmed Patient Portal to discuss any concerns or questions you have about your care. We will continue to monitor the situation with the hope of resuming regularly scheduled office visits as soon as possible. Remember to stay connected by frequently visiting our website at www.westmedgroup.com and social media pages, and listening to our Public Health Announcements Hotline: (914) 831-4149 for the latest information and updates.
By making responsible choices together, we can be the difference.
Best wishes for continued good health,
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DENIES Ability of NYC MAYOR CALL FOR “SHELTER IN PLACE.”
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Admisdt fears that the Mayor of New York City, William DeBlasio has supported “Sheltering in Place,” Governor Cuomo’s Secretary issued this statement this afternoon:
“The emergency policies that have been issued are of statewide impact, and the Governor is making every effort to coordinate these policies with our surrounding states. Any blanket quarantine or shelter in place policy would require State action and as the Governor has said, there is no consideration of that for any locality at this time “
State of the Schools. Dr. Ricca Confirms First Faculty Member to Contract Coronavirus. Says Reopening Schools undertimined at this time. Online Instruction Will Begin. Complete Video Message Here
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Governor Cuomo Talks with President Trump, Asks for Federal Aid to Help NY Expand Hospital Construction to Meet Virus Care Demand. Requests FEMA and Army Corps of Engineers. President Says “What Do You Need?’ Governor says he believes Trump will Help. 1,374 Stricken with coronavirus in NY as of this morning. Complete NEWS CONFERENCE BELOW with what happens next.
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