GREENBURGH FACES $7 MILLION REVENUE LOSS. FEINER SHARES KEY COUNTY DATA:

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 21, 2020:

Current Westchester Data

Westchester Cases: 24,306 (+503) (UPDATED 4:20 pm– NOW 24,656)
Westchester Tests: 73,340 (+1599)
Westchester Fatalities: 776 (+33)

New York State Cases: 247,512 (+4,726)
New York State Tests: 633,861 (+16,301)
New York State Fatalities: 14,347 (+478)

Unincorporated Greenburgh: 675 tested positive;  Tarrytown: 168; Dobbs Ferry: 147; Elmsford: 106; Hastings: 73;  Ardsley:60; Irvington: 52

Editor’s Note: MAYOR TOM ROACH OF WHITE PLAINS last night advised White Plains residents there were 1,010 coronavirus cases in White Plains and of Westchester 24,306 cases, 10,008 were active of whom 1,089 were hospitalized

Last night the Greenburgh Town Board met with all department heads and with the Hartsdale Fire Chief, Ray Maseda and with the Fairview Fire Chief, Howard Reiss for our weekly update -how departments are functioning during the Covid-19 crisis. The Greenville Fire department declined to participate. The meeting can be watched on the link below.

TOWN ANTICIPATES 7 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST REVENUE: 

The major topic discussed: the impact  this crisis is having on local governments, like the town of Greenburgh.

Comptroller Roberta Romano estimates that unless the United States Congress passes another Stimulus package to help towns like Greenburgh – we could lose 7 million dollars.

We anticipate a 2.4 million dollar revenue shortfall in the A budget (town and villages) and a 4.6 million dollar shortfall in the B budget (unincorporated Greenburgh).

I participated in a conference call with United States Senator Chuck Schumer last week (with other town and county officials) and will participate in a conference call with US Senator Gillibrand tomorrow afternoon–we all are lobbying Washington to provide financial help to local governments.  The Congress is considering but it’s not a done deal.

MAJOR CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE TO AVOID TAX HIKES 

Members of the Town Board and I recognize that many residents are out of work and don’t have the incomes they used to. As a result -we are going to have to make difficult choices that no one will like: cuts in our budget.

  The Board discussed deferring 2020 capital budget items that were previously approved to the future. Bulk pickups -which many enjoyed, has been suspended. DPW is considering either eliminating this service or charging residents for the service. All purchase orders will require Town Board approvals.

Discussing  legislation from Albany to authorize early retirement packages which will make it easier to reduce our workforce. New hirings on hold.  Other initiatives are also being considered and will be an announced when finalized.

DEFERRED- COURT HOUSE AND POLICE HQ

The Board discussed deferring plans for a new Court House and Police HQ but will appropriate funds for essential short term  safety initiatives such as making space available for a women’s locker room so that the police can hire additional female officers. We need to address ADA compliance concerns.  We need a new court house and police HQ but this is not the time for a significant new capital expenditure.

During the work session (which you can watch below) Jared Rosenberg, head of our EMS unit, gave a very depressing account – at least 33 Greenburgh residents are dead from this virus.  

HELPING SENIORS WITH FOOD & VIRTUAL MARRIAGE LICENSES AND CEREMONIES

Gerry Byrne, Commissioner of Parks and Andre Early, Commissioner of Human Resources at the  Theodore Young Community Center discussed our outreach efforts – helping local seniors obtain food. And Town Clerk Judith Beville mentioned that her office is preparing for virtual marriage licenses and ceremonies -authorized by NYS last week. 

WAITING TO HEAR FROM COUNTY EXEC WHETHER LAW COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVED RE: REDUCED TAX PENALTIES WILL BE SIGNED INTO LAW

Receiver of Taxes Anne Povella inquired about the law approved by the Westchester County Board of Legislators last week authorizing towns to reduce penalties on the April taxes for late payments. If the law is signed by the County Executive penalties for paying your taxes in May will be a half of one percent. And 1% till July 15th. I contacted the Deputy County Executive last night who advised me that the County Executive has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation. No decision has been made as of last night.
LINK TO TOWN BOARD DISCUSSION WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS- UPDATE ON COVID 19 RESPONSES AND BUDGET MATTERShttps://greenburghny.swagit.com/play/04212020-510

Paul Feiner

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The 7 NORTHEAST Governors of CT,DE MA,NY,NJ,PA,RI, ANNOUNCE MULTI-COUNCIL TO PLAN ORGANIZED OPENING OF ECONOMIES STATE BY STATE

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WPCNR RECOVERY REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office. April 21, 2020:

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker Sunday announced their appointees to the multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. The appointees include one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state.

The appointees from each state include:

New York

  • Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor
  • Robert Mujica, Director of NYS Division of the Budget
  • Michael Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health

New Jersey

  • George Helmy, Chief of Staff to the Governor
  • Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Jeh Johnson, former United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama

Connecticut

  • Paul Mounds, Jr., Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor
  • Indra Nooyi, Co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
  • Dr. Albert Ko, Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health

Pennsylvania

  • Michael Brunelle, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor
  • Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, Department of Health
  • Secretary Dennis Davin, Department of Community and Economic Development

Delaware

  • Sheila Grant, Chief of Staff, Office of Governor
  • Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
  • Kurt Foreman, President and CEO, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Rhode Island

  • David Ortiz, Chief of Staff to the Governor
  • Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health
  • Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary

Massachusetts

  • Kristen Lepore, Chief of Staff
  • Michael Kennealy, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
  • Lauren Peters, Undersecretary at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

“We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the infection rate meter so we don’t trigger a second wave of new infections,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything goes back to normal – we have to come up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy. New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back up and running.”

Governor Phil Murphy said, “No one has given more thought or is more eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don’t get the sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery. Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our economy and get the residents of our state back to work while minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our restrictions and move our regional economy forward.”

Governor Ned Lamont said, “One thing that’s undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together.”

Governor Tom Wolf said, “Our highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don’t undo all of our efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy.” 

Governor John Carney said, “We still have a situation in Delaware that is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or care for a family member. You’ll only increase everyone’s risk. At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I’m grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We’ll get through this by working together.”

Governor Gina Raimondo said, “States are taking the lead as we fight to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken, and I’m constantly thinking about what it will take to safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not recognize borders, and it’s clear we need a strong, coordinated regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I’m grateful to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I’m confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get Rhode Islanders — and all Americans — back to work safely.”

Governor Charlie Baker said, “The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

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RED TAPE CUT!NYS STATE SLASHES BACKLOG OF DELAYED UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS FROM 275,000 TO 4,305 IN 1 WEEK

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New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim should visit labor.ny.gov or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124. Below are some resources that will assist New Yorkers in filing their claims:

Cumbersome federal policy that slowed New York from distributing benefits lifted

Monday morning rollout of improved application, over 3,100 DOL representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs in improved process

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Office. April 21, 2020:

The New York State Department of Labor Monday announced the launch of a new application for New Yorkers to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or the new COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor, said in the Governor’s News Conference Monday, long-awaited checks for the 271,000 cleared backlogged applications, should be arriving by direct deposit within a week if mailed, two weeks. She encouraged new applicants to choose direct deposit in filling out the new application.

This one-stop-shop for unemployment benefits will connect New Yorkers with the benefits they deserve faster, without requiring them to call the Department of Labor.

Prior to Monday, due to cumbersome federal guidelines, New Yorkers were required to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance and be rejected before applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

With this new application, which aligns with updated federal policy, New Yorkers will be able to simply fill out one form to get the correct benefits.

In conjunction with this morning’s rollout of the improved application, DOL has been deploying over 3,100 representatives solely dedicated to answering unemployment benefit needs seven days a week. This is up from 400 who previously manned the DOL call center prior to the pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, DOL has paid approximately $2.2 billion in Unemployment Insurance benefits to 1.1 million New Yorkers. The application call backlog prior to April 8 has been reduced to 4,305 from 275,000.

“I have been unemployed before myself, and I understand the pain, fear and anxiety New Yorkers are facing. The DOL’s mission is to help our neighbors through some of their toughest days, and in the last week we have made great strides in updating our systems,”NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “While it appears the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to stabilize — at least from the public health perspective — we know that many New Yorkers are still facing an uncertain economic future, and the Department of Labor will continue to dedicate every resource available to helping New Yorkers weather this storm.”

The updated unemployment benefits application system, available here, will determine which unemployment program — unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance — New Yorkers should apply for and then prompt them to answer a specific set of questions.

The application builds on the new online system the department rolled out on Friday, April 10th, in partnership with the State Office of Information Technology Services and Google Cloud, to help manage the exponential and unprecedented increase in new claims resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was included in the Federal CARES Act, provides unemployment benefits for individuals who are ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance. Examples of those covered by PUA include:

  • Self-employed New Yorkers;
  • Independent contractors;
  • New Yorkers who worked for an app-based company (i.e. “gig workers”)
  • Farmers;
  • Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have COVD-19 symptoms and are seeking a diagnosis;
  • Those living with a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • Those providing care for a family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • A primary caregiver for a child unable to attend school or another facility due to COVID-19;
  • Those unable to reach their place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or because they have been advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
  • Those scheduled to commence new employment that cannot reach their workplace as a direct result of COVID-19;
  • Those who became a major breadwinner because the head of their household died from COVID-19;
  • Those who quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19;
  • Those whose place of employment closed as a direct result of COVID-19;
  • Those with insufficient work history and affected by COVID-19; and
  • New Yorkers otherwise not qualified for regular or extended UI benefits and affected by COVID-19

In addition, New Yorkers concerned about food insecurity are reminded that resources are available across the state. Anyone looking for assistance can find a local food bank, including those supported by New York State, by visiting Feeding America’s website here.

The New York State Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that every New Yorker who is entitled to unemployment insurance benefits will receive all benefits due.

New Yorkers seeking to file an unemployment insurance claim should visit labor.ny.gov or call the Telephone Claim Center at (888) 209-8124. Below are some resources that will assist New Yorkers in filing their claims:

Fact sheet on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

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NY MOVES TO OPEN ADDITIONAL BIRTH CENTERS TO PROVIDE MOTHERS SAFE BIRTH ALTERNATIVE TO STRESSED HOSPITALS. REVIEW COVID IMPACT ON PREGNANCY

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office. April 21, 2020:

Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the New York State Council on Women and Girls today announced the creation of a COVID-19 maternity task force to examine the best approach to authorizing and certifying additional dedicated birthing centers in an effort to provide mothers a safe alternative to already stressed hospitals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The task force will make recommendations to Governor Cuomo by the end of the week.  

Additionally, the task force will work with Regional Perinatal Centers to review literature and make recommendations on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy.   

“This pandemic strained our hospital system in a way no one could have ever imagined, and while New York leads in ensuring laboring mothers were able to have a healthy partner, friend or family member with them during childbirth we can and should explore additional ways to make the experience less stressful,” Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor and Chair of the New York State Council on Women and Girls, said. “Birth centers can serve as a safe alternative for low-risk pregnancies — relieving the strain on hospitals and providing a supportive environment for mothers during an already stressful time. I look forward to working with Christy and this diverse task force to develop recommendations for the Governor to review as quickly as possible.” 

“Governor Cuomo and New York State have been national leaders in the fight against COVID-19 and the fact that they are prioritizing the health and safety of women and families during this crisis only further underscores that,” said Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts. “I’m honored to be working with Melissa and the other members of this task force to urgently protect mothers and ensure women have much-needed safe birthing options.” 

The task force – chaired by Melissa DeRosa – will be comprised of stakeholders from obstetrical providers, pediatric care providers and family planning agencies in conjunction with the State Department of Health. The list of members is available below:

  • Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts
  • Christa Christakis, MPP – Executive Director, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists District II
  • Sascha James-Conterelli, DNP, RN, CNM, FACNM – President, NYSAssociation of Licensed Midwives
  • Loretta Willis, Vice President Quality & Research, Healthcare Association ofNYS
  • Lorraine Ryan, Sr. VP Legal Regulatory & Professional Affairs Greater NY Hospital Association
  • Rose Duhan, President & CEO, Community Health Care Association of NYS
  • Ngozi Moses, Executive Director Brooklyn Perinatal Network
  • Nan Strauss – Every Mother Counts
  • Dr. Deborah E. Campbell, MD – Montefiore Medical Center
  • Whitney Hall, CCE, LM, CLC – President, NYS Association of Birth Centers
  • Natasha Nurse-Clarke, PhD, RN – Regional Perinatal Center Coordinator, Maimonides
  • Dr. Dena Goffman, MD – NYP/Columbia
  • Rev. Diann Holt – Founder/Executive Director Durham’s Baby Café
  • Cynthia Jones, MD, MPH – Mosaic Health Center 

The task force will maintain an ad-hoc status throughout the COVID-19 state of emergency to address any additional issues related to COVID-19 during pregnancy through postpartum period.

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REOPENING NO EASY PATH WITHOUT TESTING AND TRACING

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THE GOVERNOR CUOMO MONDAY BRIEFING EARLIER TODAY.

TESTING MATERIALS ROADBLOCK TO REOPENING—FEDERAL GOVT PLEASE EXPEDITE

SCHOOLS CANNOT REOPEN.

SOME HOSPITALS UPSTATE MIGHT BE CLEARED FOR ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

IF STATE DECIDES TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW STATEWIDE PLAN WITH STRATEGY PREPARED BY THE STATE NOT DESIGNED YET.

TRACING OF INFECTED PERSONS STOPS SPREAD OF INFECTIONS TO PRESERVE REOPENING—THOUSANDS NEEDED—CUOMO—SHOULD BE STATE RESPONSIBILITY

DESCENDING CURVE FLAT, DESCENT MOMENTUM BEING WATCHED.

WPCNR MONDAY MORNING GOVERNOR CUOMO CORONAVIRUS BRIEFINGBy John F. Bailey. April 20, 2020 UPDATED WITH STATEWIDE CASE NUMBERS ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 3:30 PM EDT:

On the 51st Day since the first case of coronavirus appeared in New Rochelle, and the 92nd day since the first cases appeared in Seattle and Calornia, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said the hospitalization rate continued steady, the downward slide of coronavirus new infections was flat.

“Anectdotically, ” the Governor said, ” hospitals said there were “less Covid-19 patients flooding emergency rooms easing the “Hellish” conditions seen  previously in downstate New York emergency rooms. “They are still at capacity or over capacity, but it’s better.”

The Governor, in the “Q.&A,” said the state was looking at upstate hospitals coronavirus infections and present capacity rates to see if the state could reopen them to elective surgeries again. The Governor said the state was going to have a plan Tuesday to determine if bans on elective surgery (“where hospitals make money on”) could be lifted depending on anticipation of coronavirus spread trends expected to roll up state.

In the “Q.&A.”, the Governor stated in response of schools saying they were planning on reopening, the Governor stated clearly, “They can’t reopen. They are closed.”  The Governor for the first time told the media, that schools would have to follow a plan designed by the state to follow standard protocols throughout the reopening process, regarding procedures the districts would have to follow.

On the spread of coronavirus, Governor Cuomo said the Downward Curve was “flat as of yesterday now the question is how long and how steep it is going down and nobody knows.  The question is how fast it will come to a low enough number to control it.”

He announced there were 478 deaths from coronavirus Sunday, compared to the 503 on Saturday.

The Governor repeated his call for federal aid to states based on the revenues the states have lost. He said New York had passed its 2020-2021 budget based on what losses the state suffered in revenue on a quarterly basis. Tomorrow the governor said that unless federal aid to New York State was forthcoming he planned cuts of 20% to schools, 20% to local Counties and 20% to hospitals (n the quarter coming)

He called for a 50% Bonus to workers on the front lines be included in any government pay package. He noted  41% of frontline workers were “people of color” : of police and fire, 45% of transit workers, 57% of building cleaning service workers , and 40% of healthcare workers were of color. who he said yesterday came to work despite of danger to themselves, showing their commit to public service and New Yorkers. He noted people of color are disproportionately represented in delivery and childcare services and one third of frontline workers are members of low-income households.

He announced plans for extensive testing in public housing to prevent spread of the disease through Ready Responders to bring health care and more COVID diagnostic testing to residents of public housing in New York City.

He emphasized again as he does every briefing the seriousness of the reopening concept: “This is cause and effect on steroids. What we do today will determine what happens tomorrow.”

He announced the FDA report on the drug being tested by 20 hospitals under a study funded by the federal government would be in tomorrow.

The governor said supplies of test materials was dependent on the federal government taking control of the supply shortages manufacturers are  experiencing in reagents.

The governor did not comment or raise the issue of defects in Chinese antibody tests reported today on the front page of The New York Times, or whether NY antibody tests were manufactured in New York, but then no reporter there asked those questions.

Asked in the Q. & A. on who should handle tracing back of discovered corona virus infected persons to persons who may have had contact with infected persons should be the responsibility of New York State. “The government is like  a painter with a roller,” the governor analogized, “You need a painter with a brush to get the corners.”  Meaning, WPCNR theorizes, the state governments know the makeup and areas, and neighborhoods of their state much more knowledgeably and can hire persons who can canvas them.

The governor said the success of a NY Reopening depended on “Tracing.” He said that the New Rochelle outbreak was stopped from spreading by the state finding out who the infected individual visited (a synagogue gathering), and they traced all who had been in contact with him. “That’s how we stopped it.” The governor pointed out that number tracers who need to be hired to trace new COVID-19 persons discovered after any reopening is not determined yet. Tracing had to be in place to avoid a rapid increase of the coronavirus from newly infected persons when any reopening begins.

Yesterday, the members of the 7 State Governors Task force to coordinate planning reopening issues had been selected. That plan is expected either today or shortly according to the schedule of the group.

The Governor confirmed 4,726 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 247,512 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 247,512 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

WITH COUNTIES IN THE NY METROPOLITAN AREA HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD FACE

* ASTERISK NEAR NEW CASE COUNT indicates daily growth rate in new cases, computed by WPCNR and not be the state. SUFFOLK COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS THE HIGHEST DAILY NEW CASE RATE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, 2.9%. NEW YORK CITY HAS REDUCED THEIR DAILY GROWTH RATE TO 1.8%, LOWER THAN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES AND WELL BELOW THE 6% NEW YORK CITY WAS GROWING NEW CASES ONE WEEK AGO. :

CountyTotal PositiveNew Positive
Albany6875
Allegany300
Broome1997
Cattaraugus340
Cayuga360
Chautauqua250
Chemung730
Chenango780
Clinton512
Columbia1114
Cortland250
Delaware490
Dutchess2,28444 (PLUS 2%)*
Erie2,10939
Essex202
Franklin130
Fulton270
Genesee1192
Greene861
Hamilton30
Herkimer490
Jefferson540
Lewis91
Livingston390
Madison1060
Monroe1,05422
Montgomery350
Nassau30,677664 (PLUS 2.2%)
Niagara2559
NYC136,806 2,370 (PLUS 1.8%)
Oneida2794
Onondaga50911
Ontario711
Orange6,482103 PLUS 1.6%
Orleans460
Oswego481
Otsego491
Putnam5997 (PLUS 1.2%)
Rensselaer1774
Rockland9,45793 (PLUS 1%)
Saratoga2543
Schenectady2691
Schoharie200
Schuyler71
Seneca180
St. Lawrence1105
Steuben1670
Suffolk27,662774 (PLUS 2.9%)
Sullivan5447 (PLUS 1.3%)
Tioga372
Tompkins1192
Ulster87723 (PLUS 2.7%)
Warren1015
Washington652
Wayne500
Westchester24,306503 (PLUS 1.7%)
Wyoming360
Yates101

###

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GREENBURGH POLICE/FIRE CHIEFS REPORT SAFETY SITUATION TONIGHT 6 PM- SUPERVISOR FEINER REPORTS COVID-19 EMS ACTIVITY 1/3 of Calls

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. April 20, 2020:


  Every week the Town Board hears from department heads who share info on how their departments are operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many employees are working from home. Have employees tested positive? How are departments managing?  We will hold our weekly department head update tonight at 6 PM. Meeting will be streamed live on the website:www.greenburghny.com and broadcast on channel 75 and verizon channel 35.  I will post a link to the discussion later this week.

   We invited the three paid fire Chiefs to participate.  Have received confirmations from Hartsdale Fire Chief Ray Maseda and from Fairview Fire Chief Howard Reiss that they will participate. Waiting to hear back from the Greenville Fire department.  Last week Chiefs Maseda and Reiss provided residents with useful information.

227 KNOWN COVID 19 CALLS—34% OF total EMS CALL VOLUME

Jared Rosenberg who is the EMS Supervisor for the Greenburgh Police department provided me with some interesting statistics:

Since we started tracking COVID 19 mid-March, we have seen mostly medical related calls, ranging from cardiac events, strokes, respiratory distress, and diabetes.  These medical calls also have consisted of 227  known COVID 19 calls, which has consumed 34 % of the total EMS Call Volume .  

In regards to trauma, What’s important , residents are staying safer, there’s less trauma, although  we have had calls for back pain, lacerations, extremity pain,  and other  documented injuries, residents should use extra caution when driving, biking, hiking, or jogging to prevent any unnecessary trips to the emergency room. 

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IT’S OFFICIAL: “PAST THE HIGH POINT, WE ARE NOW ON THE DESCENT.”

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WPCNR SUNDAY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO BRIEFING REPORT. By John F. Bailey. April 19, 2020:

“ We are past the high point, we are now on the descent. The maximum inflo (of new corona virus hospitalizations) is less than what it is. The net intubations is down,” was the good news Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reported to day in Manhasset, Long Island where he was visiting the Northwell Health complex in Nassau County to give his daily report on the coronavirus battle.

“But this, (he pointed to the new hospitalizations rate) is a reality check, 1,300 people yesterday tested positive. A lot of people, but less than the overall curve of new cases (2,000 a day average previously). 507 persons died yesterday. 400 persons with the disease were put on intubations (ventilators).”

He congratulated health care workers across the state, and the 85,000 medical personnel who have volunteered to aid New York health care professionsals to care for the thousands with coronavirus.

He saluted the vital forces: police, fire, transit workers, EMS professionals who came to work to serve and help in a massive effort to help the sick, all risking their lives by going to the diseased and the suffering. The governor said he would be forever grateful for their sacrifice and courage and dedication to public service, most of whom are immigrants.

The Governor announced the New York State-developed antibody test for coronavirus antibodies presence in persons has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration.

He said beginning tomorrow New York Labs across the state would begin random testing across New York State to determine the possible scope of coronavirus spread in the population they will administer the anti-body test to  at random.

In the “Q. & A” the governor said the goal of antibody testing statewide was to random-AB test 2,000 NY state persons a day, 14,000 a week to reach 500,000 in a month, 1.5 Million in 3 months and “hope to increase that number to a random sampling of the population (6%).

“This (percentage of who had coronavirus) will give us the first effective number of how many already have had the corona virus,” the governor said.

He said the state has 9 million workers in a 19 Million population, and the percentage of anti-body positives would show the state an idea of how many persons could be carrying the virus producing anti bodies but not hospitalized to ascertain the risk of reopening.

The Governor did not explain what percentage might be considered positive to reopen the state, or too high to risk a reopen, because the antibody test has not been done before.

He called on representatives in the state not to play politics. He called on the federal government to in the next recovery bill (that congress in Washington is working on) to include $500 Billion in funding for state governments, so the states can fund what they fund in states.

In New York, Mr. Cuomo said if the government did not deliver adequate compensation to NY, or none, he would have to cut 50% of state education aid in New York and cut Hospital aid, which he said “how ludicrous that would be” in view of the health workers’ “tremendous” medical achievement in turning back the march of the coronavirus better than any official prognosticators said they could.

He praised President Trump’s tweet statement that “the federal government is with you(the states) all the way”.  

“That’s teamwork,” Governor Cuomo said.

The Governor also said he had a discussion with the head of the CDC Center for Desease Control who assured him the need for reagents for every state and (presumably for NY’s 301 lab companies) was being addressed.

Governor Cuomo also praised President Trump’s briefing last night on the state of increasing testing, and what the federal government was doing.

He said that now is only halftime. The residents of the NY cannot think it is over, because, he said “the beast is not dead. It is still out there ready to send the hospitalization rate up again.”

He said he got that people were having problems with cabin fever. He encouraged politicians not to politicize the issue based on the complaints of their constiutents.

He suggested, “Blame me.”

The news conference “Q. & A.” protocol is in its third day of Cuomo Conference Rules. They are not allowed to shout questions all at once after every Cuomo answer. The Governor picks each reporter in turn who asks a question. This has stripped away the raucous pandomonium of every time reporter trying to yell louder than anyone else. It is a lesson in how news conferences should be conducted. It eliminates the groaning, shouting of the press remuda so you can hear the question since no reporter is miked. It is Cuomo calming.

The Governor confirmed 6,054 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 242,786 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 242,786 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows (Metro areas of interest are in BOLDFACE:

CountyTotal PositiveNew Positive
Albany68234
Allegany300
Broome1926
Cattaraugus340
Cayuga360
Chautauqua250
Chemung731
Chenango781
Clinton491
Columbia1072
Cortland250
Delaware490
Dutchess2,24039
Erie2,07073
Essex182
Franklin130
Fulton270
Genesee11730
Greene853
Hamilton30
Herkimer492
Jefferson544
Lewis80
Livingston392
Madison1061
Monroe1,03224
Montgomery351
Nassau30,013833
Niagara24612
NYC134,4363,173
Oneida2757
Onondaga4986
Ontario701
Orange6,379113
Orleans465
Oswego472
Otsego481
Putnam59210
Rensselaer1739
Rockland9,364193
Saratoga2517
Schenectady2689
Schoharie200
Schuyler60
Seneca180
St. Lawrence1057
Steuben1677
Suffolk26,888745
Sullivan53713
Tioga353
Tompkins1170
Ulster85434
Warren962
Washington6311
Wayne501
Westchester23,803624
Wyoming360
Yates90
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COUNTY LEGISLATORS PASS LATE PROPERTY TAX PENALTY RELIEF for TOWNS

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. April 19, 2020:

On Friday, the Board of Legislators passed a measure authorizing towns in Westchester County to slash penalties by as much as 80% for late payments of county and town property taxes through July 15 of this year.

The approved measure applies to towns and not cities in Westchester, because the towns fall under a county law which is being changed.  Cities do not fall under the same law and must take their own, separate actions on penalties, if they so desire.

The newly-passed measure authorizes towns to reduce the penalties they collect by 75% for taxes paid from May 1 – May 31 – to 0.5% from 2%.  It reduces late-payment penalties by 80% for taxes paid from June 1- July 15 — to 1% from 5%. 

The penalty-reduction measure passed by a bi-partisan vote of 14-3.

Town and county property taxes and assessments are due April 30.  That date is set by state law and cannot be changed by county law. 

The penalty-reduction plan was developed with and supported by a majority of Westchester’s Town Supervisors.  It gives town governments which collect the taxes the ability to reduce the burden on taxpayers struggling during the COVID-19 epidemic, while ensuring that they have a program which they can manage for all taxpayers.

Towns may opt out of the penalty-reduction measure.

Board Chair Ben Boykin (D- White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison), said, “This is a public health and an economic emergency that has touched every corner of this County.  I’m grateful that we’ve been able to act to provide relief to taxpayers in our towns in a way that will also allow us to continue to provide essential services.”

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Federal Government Controls “Reagents” Chemicals Supply Key to Testing More People to Control Spread of Disease in Reopening, Governor Cuomo Explains. Must move Flood of Reagents to 300 NY Labs LABS SAY to Control Spread–Trace “COVID POSITIVES” CONTACTS to Smother Spread. Reopening Compromised?

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS GOVERNOR CUOMO BRIEFING REPORT By John F. Bailey. April 18, 2020 UPDATED WITH VIDEO 3 PM:

The Federal Government controls whether New York State can double ability to test for coronavirus infections to control the pandemic effectively after New York “reopens.” This deserves to be repeated:

The Federal Government controls whether New York State can double its state labs capacity to test for coronavirus infections to control the pandemic with success after New York reopens.

GOVERNOR CUOMO REPORTED LABS ANALYZING TESTS IN NEW YORK STATE CONFIRMED THE LABS NEEDED SUBSTANTIALLY MORE ESSENTIAL REAGENT CHEMICALS FOR COVID-19 TEST ANALYSIS. MANY SAID THEY CAN DOUBLE TESTING CAPACITY IN A DAY IF THEY HAD THE CHEMICALS THE DISTRIBUTION OF WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH MANUFACTURERS. (Albany Feed)

The reagents “react” when exposed to the coronavirus testing samples showing the person is Covid-19 positive or negative.

These essential reagents are needed in greater supply to ramp up testing to the 2,000,000 tests a day level (the scale Governor Cuomo believes is needed for testing persons to assure a successful reopening is not compromised by infected persons coming back into work without knowing they have the virus.

The distribution of those essentials to analyze the tests and what companies get them is controlled by the federal government in Washington. (The Governor has consistently maintained that without aggressive greatly escalated testing, any reopening could quickly send COVID-19 new infections exploding again.)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in his briefing today reported he had his staff call 50 companies that conduct analysis of coronavirus testing samples in New York State to find out how how they could analyze a volume of 2 million test samples a day.

In written quotes posted on televison today (See video above), the Lab companies shown contacted all wrote they needed an extreme increase in supply of the reactants required to analyze the tests at a 2,000,000 a day level.

The conclusion implied : if the federal government holds back the reagents or does not assure a supply enough to a state, any reopening could fail and create a whole city in coronavirus lockdown, facemasked and social distancing again very quickly.

Previously the Governor had touched on the supply needs of increased testing referring to swabs, antibody testing, fingerprick blood tests, and needs for reagents. The state staff explored with the 301 labs in New York State and found that reagent supply is controlled by the federal government, which controls where they go from the manufacturers, what states get them.

The Governor speaking with one of his daughters recently asked him what is all about this testing (not a direct quote). The governor realized he needed to make the need for testing clearer, why it had to ramp up substanially in reopening, and what had to be done to ramp it up and what was the problem.

His staff found out by asking. Previously the governor had mentioned that the reagents come from China. Today he shared what the labs told them: the federal government rations the reagents out.

No reporter in the news conference asked the Governor whether the federal government has an adequate supply of reagents in a stock pile; whether the reagents could be knocked off generically by pharmaceutical companies, to ease the supply or whether the federal government would direct the reagents they have to the states that request them or hold them back and why. Yesterday Governor Cuomo said the President did not want to do more testing because it was hard to do.

The governor focused on testing because the infection rate of new cases continued to hover at 2,000 new cases a day that has been consistent since mid-march. as he explained in the above video as well as the necessity for substanial more testing AFTER the Reopening begins, implying if the reopening proceeds without at least 2 million tests a day, it would be compromised and perhaps fail. (Video Feed)

The Governor said the Apex of the curve continued to flatten and the new case rate remained steady. He is concerned and so explained the fact nobody knew until today: the federal government controls the supply of the reactant chemicals needed to identify and isolate population that don’t know they have the virus and are returning to work.

The deaths Friday from Covid-19 numbered 540. The Hospitalization rate was down. The intubation rate (converting patients to ventilators) continued to go down.

In the news conference, the governor turned aside a question asking if the governor felt nursing homes were negligent in their care, resulting in the deaths of so many nursing home residents. The governor said no, that he felt the nursing homes were just “overwhelmed. Staff are getting sick. Residents are dying,” the governor explained about lagging nursing home reports and failure to respond. He said when complaints are made about nursing homes not providing information to relatives of a person in their care, the state calls the home.

The Governor did say that persons could get marriage licenses and tests online and could get married by video ceremony.

Asked about prisoners being released from prision terms, Melissa DeRosa Secretary to the Governor, said only prisoners with 90 days of their sentences remaining were being released to avoid exposure to Covid-19. The release affects 200 inmates

The Governor confirmed 7,090 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 236,732 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 236,732 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows (surrounding counties in bold face)::

CountyTotal PositiveNew Positive
Albany64829
Allegany301
Broome1868
Cattaraugus340
Cayuga360
Chautauqua250
Chemung721
Chenango771
Clinton481
Columbia1054
Cortland250
Delaware491
Dutchess2,20159
Erie1,99768
Essex161
Franklin130
Fulton270
Genesee874
Greene825
Hamilton30
Herkimer471
Jefferson500
Lewis80
Livingston373
Madison1050
Monroe1,00833
Montgomery341
Nassau29,180641
Niagara2347
NYC131,2633,911
Oneida2687
Onondaga4929
Ontario692
Orange6,266182
Orleans417
Oswego450
Otsego473
Putnam5824
Rensselaer16414
Rockland9,171184
Saratoga2448
Schenectady2599
Schoharie200
Schuyler60
Seneca180
St. Lawrence982
Steuben1606
Suffolk26,1431,108
Sullivan52419
Tioga322
Tompkins1170
Ulster82032
Warren943
Washington524
Wayne490
Westchester23,179703
Wyoming361
Yates91

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THE NEXT STEPS TO KEEP FLATTENING THE CURVE

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Governor Cuomo’s Press Office. April 18, 2020:

Dear New Yorker

As a result of our collective actions we are starting to see the total hospitalization numbers go down as the curve begins to steadily flatten. Everything we have done so far in response to this crisis has shown that together, we can control the beast that is this virus — but it’s not over yet.

We had approximately 2,000 new COVID hospitalizations Thursday.

That is a harsh reality check for anyone who thinks that the pandemic is passing. This is still a very serious health crisis — and so we need to stay the course until the time we can move forward in safety and with protections to the public health while beginning to reopen the economy. 

  Here’s what else you need to know this morning: 

1. Starting last night at 8 PM, if you are in a public space where social distancing is not possible, you MUST cover your mouth and nose. This week I issued an Executive Order requiring all people in New York to wear a mask or a face covering when out in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transportation.

 2. I will issue an Executive Order directing all public and private labs in New York to coordinate with the State Department of Health to prioritize Coronavirus diagnostic testing. 

A key component to “un-pause” New York is ramping up the state’s testing capacity. The Executive Order will help ensure the 301 laboratories and hospitals in the state that are licensed to perform virology testing operate in a coordinated way to help get us to the testing capacity we need.

 3. In order for states to reopen, we need federal help. 

I reiterate my call for the federal government to provide unrestricted funding to the states to help stabilize the economy and allow the states to perform reopening functions. The federal government has passed three bills to address this crisis, including the federal CARES Act, all of which contained no funding to offset drastic state revenue shortfalls related to this pandemic.

 4. NYS is launching an awareness campaign to help ensure that New Yorkers who need it most claim their Economic Impact Payments under the CARES Act. 

The CARES Act provides $1,200 payments to individuals making below $75,000 and $2,400 payments to married couples making below $150,000. Many taxpayers who filed 2018 or 2019 federal tax returns will receive them automatically into their bank account. Learn more on the Tax Department’s Economic Impact Payment information webpage. The Tax Department will also partner with other state agencies and local community organizations to do direct outreach to make sure New Yorkers in need can access their payments. 

Today’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Because the COVID-19 pandemic has closed restaurants across the country, food providers are dealing with excess crops. To make sure their crops don’t go to waste, Cranney Farms in Idaho is giving away 2 million potatoes on a first-come, first-served basis.

Individuals are stopping by the farm on behalf of food banks and soup kitchens to load up on potatoes. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here. 

Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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