Hits: 132
Mayor Closes TeleConference Common Council Meeting with a Commendation to City Residents.
Hits: 117
Hits: 125
THIS JUST IN: PRESIDENT TRUMP OKS HOSPITAL SHIP TO TAKE CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS
Hits: 132
Governor Cuomo: “I spoke with the President this morning and asked if the USNS Comfort, the United States Navy Ship the Comfort, which is an additional 1,000 beds, could also take COVID patients. The original plan was they would do non-COVID patients from the hospital system. As it turns out, we don’t have many non-COVID symptoms because when you close everything down, the silver lining was traffic accidents, crime went down. So, we really need help with the COVID patients. The President spoke to the Department of Defense and granted that request to use the Navy Ship Comfort for COVID patients. So, that’s an additional 1,000 beds with federal personnel managing that ship. So, that’s a welcome relief and the President granted the request. … Between the 2,500 at the Javits Center and the 1,000 beds of the Comfort, that should be a major, major relief system for already overtaxed hospital system.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the federal government has granted his request to allow COVID-19 patients to be treated on the USNS Comfort. The approval will provide an additional 1,000 beds, staffed by federal personnel, to care for COVID-19 patients in New York. Governor Cuomo called President Trump earlier today to make the request. The Governor made today’s announcement during an interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur.
8,658 NEW CASES OF CORONA VIRUS FOR 130,689 STATEWIDE. Governor Requests USNS COMFORT HOSPITAL SHIP FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS. 802 VENTILATORS SWEPT INTO DOWNSTATE HOSPITALS. HEADSPACE OFFERING PSYCIATRIC AID/MINDFULNESS to ALL.
Hits: 0
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Office. April 6, 2020:
South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten Island & Brooklyn Center Temporary Hospital at 170 Buffalo Avenue Will Open This Week Specifically for COVID-19 Patients
Governor Cuomo:
“One of the reasons the rate of infection is going down is because social distancing is working. We have to continue the social distancing. Schools and non-essential businesses will stay closed until April 29. I know that’s a negative for many, many reasons. I know what it does to the economy. But as I said from day one I’m not going to choose between public health and economic activity because in either event public health still demands that we stay on pause with businesses closed and schools closed.”
Cuomo: “I’m going to call the president this afternoon and ask him to shift the Comfort from non-COVID to COVID. … That is the only way we sustain this level of intensity in the hospital system. I understand what the original plan was with the Comfort, but I understand that there is no preordained strategy here. You have to feel it out day to day and you have to adjust with the facts. We do not need the Comfort for non-COVID cases. We need it for COVID.”
Earlier today, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced all NYS on Pause functions will be extended for an additional two weeks. The Governor also directed schools and nonessential businesses to stay closed for an additional two weeks through April 29th. The state will re-evaluate after this additional two-week period.
Governor Cuomo also announced the state is increasing the maximum fine for violations of the state’s social distancing protocol from $500 to $1,000 to help address the lack of adherence to social distancing protocols. The Governor reminded localities that they have the authority to enforce the protocols.
The Governor today is asking the federal government to allow the USNS Comfort hospital ship to be used for COVID-19 patients. President Trump has already granted the Governor’s request for the Javits temporary hospital facility to be used for only COVID-19 positive patients, and the addition of the USNS Comfort would help relieve pressure on the state’s hospital system with an addition of 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients.
The Governor also announced that 802 ventilators have been distributed downstate through the state’s “surge and flex” system where all hospital systems are working together as one and sharing supplies, equipment and staff. Of the 802 ventilators, 38 were deployed to Rockland County, 36 were deployed to Westchester County, 505 were deployed to New York City and 223 were deployed to Long Island.
Governor Cuomo also announced the creation of the First Responders Fund to assist COVID-19 health care workers and first responders with expenses and costs, including child care. The State Department of Health is accepting donations for the fund, and Blackstone is making an anchor $10 million contribution to the fund. Donations can be made electronically at https://www.healthresearch.org/donation-form/ or by check sent to below address. Donors should specify the donation is for “COVID-19 NYS Emergency Response.” c/o Health Research, Inc., 150 Broadway, Suite 560, Menands, NY 12204
The Governor also announced that the state is partnering with Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation, to offer free meditation and mindfulness content for all New Yorkers as a mental health resource for residents coping with the unprecedented public health crisis. New Yorkers can access a collection of science-backed, evidence-based guided meditations, along with at-home mindful workouts, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety at www.headspace.com/ny.
Finally, the Governor confirmed 8,658 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 130,689 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 130,689 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
(FROM WPCNR: Westchester cases now number 14,294, increasing 4% Overnight, 642 cases more than yesterday (13,723) a drop of 1% in the day to-day rate of increase.
New York City cases increased 4,630 to 72,181, an increase of 6.85 overnight statistically the same day to day increase rate as yesterday.
NASSAU COUNTY increased 1,218 to 15,616 cases, an 8.4% overnight increase compared to 7.8% overnight Saturday.
SUFFOLK COUNTY increased 1,082 cases overnight to 13,487 , a 8.7% overnight increase, compared to 9.1% Saturday to Sunday.
ROCKLAND went up 377 to 5,703 from 5,326 Sunday, a 7% increase overnight compared to 9.3%–so that county is slowing down.
ORANGE increased cases to 3,387, up 295 cases, overnight increase rate: 9.5%
PUTNAM has 345 cases, with 31 more from Sunday, increasing at a 9.8%
ULSTER went up 40 cases to 372–increasing 12%
DUTCHESS has 1,189 cases, up 112, a 10.3% increase day to day.
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 319 | 14 |
| Allegany | 17 | 1 |
| Broome | 76 | 5 |
| Cattaraugus | 12 | 2 |
| Cayuga | 11 | 3 |
| Chautauqua | 15 | 4 |
| Chemung | 47 | 9 |
| Chenango | 46 | 3 |
| Clinton | 36 | 3 |
| Columbia | 59 | 8 |
| Cortland | 13 | 3 |
| Delaware | 29 | 2 |
| Dutchess | 1,189 | 112 |
| Erie | 1,023 | 105 |
| Essex | 7 | 0 |
| Franklin | 10 | 0 |
| Fulton | 11 | 2 |
| Genesee | 23 | 1 |
| Greene | 24 | 0 |
| Hamilton | 2 | 0 |
| Herkimer | 25 | 3 |
| Jefferson | 33 | 7 |
| Lewis | 6 | 3 |
| Livingston | 22 | 3 |
| Madison | 82 | 3 |
| Monroe | 574 | 26 |
| Montgomery | 15 | 0 |
| Nassau | 15,616 | 1,218 |
| Niagara | 120 | 4 |
| NYC | 72,181 | 4,630 |
| Oneida | 100 | 13 |
| Onondaga | 271 | 3 |
| Ontario | 32 | 0 |
| Orange | 3,397 | 295 |
| Orleans | 13 | 2 |
| Oswego | 29 | 1 |
| Otsego | 34 | 5 |
| Putnam | 345 | 31 |
| Rensselaer | 62 | 2 |
| Rockland | 5,703 | 377 |
| Saratoga | 153 | 5 |
| Schenectady | 138 | 10 |
| Schoharie | 11 | 0 |
| Schuyler | 4 | 0 |
| Seneca | 9 | 0 |
| St. Lawrence | 59 | 4 |
| Steuben | 75 | 12 |
| Suffolk | 13,487 | 1,082 |
| Sullivan | 253 | 19 |
| Tioga | 8 | 1 |
| Tompkins | 94 | 6 |
| Ulster | 372 | 40 |
| Warren | 26 | 1 |
| Washington | 19 | 1 |
| Wayne | 34 | 2 |
| Westchester | 14,294 | 571 |
| Wyoming | 23 | 1 |
| Yates | 1 | 0 |
Governor Extends Closures, Social Distancing TO APRIL 29. Sees continuation of Coronavirus abating. Does Not Want to Revive It. Declares “all NY hospitals have ventilators they need.” Washington State, California send ventilators. Governor will send NY resources to next states hardest hit when New York Can. Establishes Relief Fund for doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, police fire to help them with child care, expenses. Blackstone contributes $10 Million to start the fund
Hits: 0
Mayor’s Report to White Plains
Hits: 113
WPCNR MAYOR’S CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Mayor’s Office. April 5, 2020:
New York state now has close to 122,000 cases; there are 642 new cases in Westchester for a current total of 13,723 out of almost 44,000 people tested in the county.
The municipality specific data we received from the county today indicates 341 positive cases in White Plains. As we have noted these local numbers do not accurately reflect the actually count in a municipality on the day they are received. We share them because they are the best data we have been given.
The April meeting of the White Plains Common Council will be held at 7:30 PM. Monday night. Due to the public health emergency and the order to limit gatherings due to the spread of COVID-19, the Common Council meeting will be closed to in-person attendance by the public and the Citizens to be Heard regularly scheduled for 7:00 pm is cancelled.
The meeting will be aired live on the White Plains Cable Access Channels (Channel 75 on Altice and Channel 47on FIOS) and streamed on the City’s website. The agenda for the meeting and details regarding how the meeting will be conducted are available on the City of White Plains website.
Finally, we continue to get inquiries from people who wish to volunteer their time. If you are interested please email your contact information to: volunteer@whiteplainsny.gov.
Remember we are standing together by staying apart.
THE WRAPUP FROM ALBANY–Cautious Optimism 122,031 cases in NY may be plateau-ing. Too Close to Call.
Hits: 141
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office.and the coronavirus news conference Sunday morning 4 PM.:
Earlier today, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the federal government is deploying approximately 1,000 personnel to New York State, including doctors, nurses, respiratory technicians and therapists, to help the state’s overwhelmed hospital systems. The first 325 personnel will be deployed to the New York City hospital system today.
From WPCNR: In the Governor’s daily Coronavirus Intelligence Report, Governor Cuomo expressed cautious optimism we may be seeing a leveling off of the rise in cases, which he said the experts could not tell him whether the number of cases in New York State had “APEXED” or that today’s reported rise had hit a plateau, the governor said it was too soon to tell.
Governor Cuomo expressed optimism that deaths today declined for the first time; hospitalization rates of infected coronavirus patients had dropped sharply to 574 new today (after averaging about 1,000) and incubations (patients going onto ventilators) had declined slightly
The governor said the state had enough hospital beds, approaching the previously projected 140,000 infections in the state, that the problem was not beds now, but ventilators. He again detailed his plan to deploy ventilators from other hospitals across the state. He has not signed the executive order requiring hospitals to do so, saying he was making changes to it to determine how long such an order would stay in effect.
He addressed the Rockland County outbreak of cases in his press conference below, saying he is well aware of the Muncie problem in that county and that Dr. Zucker, the State Commissioner of Health had spoken with the Rabbis of that community and made them aware of the need for distancing and travel restrictions.
The Governor said the Coronavirus “Command Center” is keeping track of how many ventilators are in every hospital “within 2 to 3 ventilators” and will dispatch ventilators to any hospital declining to zero ventilators. He said he personally would drive ventilator to a hospital himself if they needed it and no other transport could be found. He said he did not have a count on how many doctors, nurses, police and fire personnel had contracted the virus, but a count would be forthcoming.
He said the Covid crunch in New York City would be greatly aided when the Javits Center conversion to a auxiliary hospital was completed.
WPCNR Notes: you can see key moments in the Governor’s news conference in the clips in the previous stories below with more details, plus the news conference with reporters where key questions were asked that the Governor answer forthrightly.
Finally, the Governor confirmed 8,327 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 122,031 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 122,031 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
Editor’s Note: Based on these most recent numbers, the overnight day-to-day rate of new cases in Westchester County declined to 5% .
The New York City new cases increased to 67, 551 a day-to-day increase from Saturday of 6.7%, from Saturday’s 63,306, 4,245 new cases today.
Nassau County cases went up to 14,398 increasing 1,052 cases, a day-to-day increase rate of 7.8%
Suffolk County cases increased 1,035 persons to 12,405, a day-to-day increase rate of 9.1%.
Orange County had 3,102 cases, increasing 361, a daily increase rate of 13.1%
Putnam County has 314 cases, up 31, a daily increase rate of 9.3%
Rockland County went over 5,000 to 5,326 total cases up from 4,872 yesterday. Rockland is increasing in number of cases by a percentage of 9.3%.
Ulster went up 42 cases to 332, from 290 yesterday a rate of 10.8% a day.
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 305 | 12 |
| Allegany | 16 | 0 |
| Broome | 71 | 6 |
| Cattaraugus | 10 | 1 |
| Cayuga | 8 | 1 |
| Chautauqua | 11 | 1 |
| Chemung | 38 | 2 |
| Chenango | 43 | 4 |
| Clinton | 33 | 2 |
| Columbia | 51 | 2 |
| Cortland | 10 | 0 |
| Delaware | 27 | 1 |
| Dutchess | 1,077 | 139 |
| Erie | 918 | 110 |
| Essex | 7 | 0 |
| Franklin | 10 | 0 |
| Fulton | 9 | 0 |
| Genesee | 22 | 2 |
| Greene | 24 | 0 |
| Hamilton | 2 | 0 |
| Herkimer | 22 | 4 |
| Jefferson | 26 | 6 |
| Lewis | 3 | 1 |
| Livingston | 19 | 1 |
| Madison | 79 | 5 |
| Monroe | 548 | 36 |
| Montgomery | 15 | 2 |
| Nassau | 14,398 | 1,052 |
| Niagara | 116 | 15 |
| NYC | 67,551 | 4,245 |
| Oneida | 87 | 7 |
| Onondaga | 268 | 6 |
| Ontario | 32 | 1 |
| Orange | 3,102 | 361 |
| Orleans | 11 | 1 |
| Oswego | 28 | 2 |
| Otsego | 29 | 3 |
| Putnam | 314 | 31 |
| Rensselaer | 60 | 2 |
| Rockland | 5,326 | 454 |
| Saratoga | 148 | 7 |
| Schenectady | 128 | 11 |
| Schoharie | 11 | 1 |
| Schuyler | 4 | 0 |
| Seneca | 9 | 3 |
| St. Lawrence | 55 | 3 |
| Steuben | 63 | 8 |
| Suffolk | 12,405 | 1,035 |
| Sullivan | 234 | 41 |
| Tioga | 7 | 0 |
| Tompkins | 88 | 3 |
| Ulster | 332 | 42 |
| Warren | 25 | 5 |
| Washington | 18 | 2 |
| Wayne | 32 | 2 |
| Westchester | 13,723 | 642 |
| Wyoming | 22 | 4 |
| Yates | 1 | 0 |
THE PRESS STEPS UP: GOVERNOR CUOMO ANSWERS TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS– DELIVERS THE TOUGH ANSWERS
Hits: 111
New Deaths from Coronavirus in NY Decline for First Time. New Hospitalizations (574) Dro, “much lower” Number of Incubations “slightly lower,” Governor Cuomo reports. 325 Federal doctors, nurses, incubation specialists to deploy today to NY Metro Hospitals to back up New York’s stalwart doctors, nurses, the “true heroes” Governor Calls them. May be at the “APEX” or on a “Plateau”–too soon to know.
Hits: 0