Governor Cuomo Says Next 10 Days Are Critical For NY’s COVID-19 Fight

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update from the Red Room at the State Capitol. (Image by Mike Groll / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo).

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ALBANY – New York State’s Governor says the next ten days will be critical for determining the next steps of the state’s COVID-19 response.

During his briefing on Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo explained COVID-19 rates have spiked across the country post-Halloween and some regions also saw a post-Thanksgiving bump in activy. The regions, he says, experienced heightened travel and potentially more instances of larger gatherings and less masking.





With that in mind, Cuomo is encouraging people to celebrate safely ahead of Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s in order to continue fighting COVID-19’s spread.

“We are not destined for a shutdown,” said Cuomo. “I want to do everything I can to avoid a shutdown.”

The governor furthers that no hospital in the state has reported being close to a critical point. Hospitals are required to report when they are within three weeks of reaching 85% capacity.





















Cuomo says the Finger Lakes region continues to be a concern as the percent of people hospitalized per population is up to 0.07%, the highest in the state. The region also has the second-highest positivity rate at 8.48%.

“It’s not getting better. It’s a serious concern for us,” Cuomo furthered.

He said the state is considering several options for the region, and that he plans on speaking with local leaders and hospitals about the state’s concerns.

Cuomo did not announce any changes to yellow and orange zones in the region.









So far 22,000 vaccines have been given in New York nursing homes in the first two days of the program’s rollout. Additionally, Cuomo says some vials of the Moderna vaccine are being found to contain 11 doses, providing for the possibility of additional vaccine administrations in some cases.

Among key elements of Cuomo’s 2021 State of the State Address will be how the virus impacted the state and how to reopen it safely.

Cuomo also says health leaders are working with the Buffalo Bills on potentially bringing fans into the stands for the team’s upcoming playoff game.

 

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