Public Health Initiatives to Combat COVID-19

Governor Cuomo today highlighted several public health initiatives to combat COVID-19 and its impact on New Yorkers:

• The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin disinfecting all of its trains every 24 hours.  To accomplish this, the entire system will close to riders every night from 1:00AM to 5:00AM beginning Wednesday, May 6.
• To develop a better understanding of where infections are originating, New York State has begun asking hospitals to collect more specific demographic information from patients, including place of residence, occupation, and method of travel to work.
• The State will distribute an additional 7 million cloth masks across the State to the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including those in nursing homes, poorer communities, and New York City residents.
• The State will conduct antibody testing of transit workers in the New York City region.
• The State is distributing $25 million to foodbanks throughout the State, using New York-sourced products.  The Governor also called on philanthropies to help fund foodbanks, asking interested entities to contact Fran Barrett, Director of Nonprofits, at COVIDphilanthropies@exec.ny.gov

COVID-19 Numbers                                                     

Thankfully, we are remaining on the far side of the COVID-19 plateau. That said, the number of deaths in the State has increased by 299 since yesterday to 18,909 total.