Would Governor Cuomo please fill us in on the details of his conversations about managing the pandemic with Trump, Pence, and Fauci?
If there haven’t been any such conversations, then why not?
If the President is fumbling the challenge, then don’t engage in feckless handwringing, but organize all Governors. Please, we don’t want people to suffer or die due to lack of competent and assertive leadership.
6
Half of these comments are of the “Hey, presto!” variety.
Need space for hospital beds? Here’s a jet, here’s a deserted school, here’s a hotel—Hey, PRESTO! And it’s fixed.
Need medical people? Hey, PRESTO, and mice become RNs.
Need ventilators? HEY! PRESTO, and they appear.
Need drugs? Scream HEY, PRESTO!!! (This one takes volume) at Big Pharma...
Here’s MY hey, presto—let’s go back in time, and all you people who cheered when Trump mocked people and programs, all you people who shouted hooray when preparedness got cut because you didn’t wanna pay the taxes, all you people who sneered at the aging people in the decaying building you called a county health center, all you people who NIMBYd that new hospital or local clinic into oblivion...
And all you people who dodn’t bother to vote, HEY! PRESTO! And you came to your senses three years ago.
9
@JND: We leftists like the army to help combat the Corona virus instead of desperate immigrants and Iraqi civilians.
4
Emergency Respirator Production: If The Greatest Generation Can Do It, Why Can't We?
Gov. Cuomo & Michael Moore were busy today [Mar. 15, 2020] broadcasting about the Truth of What We Are Up Against Right Now with this Pandemic.
At one point in his latest podcast [Rumble, Ep 51 - The Awful Truth], Moore spoke about WWII-era assembly-lines, reconfigured to build weapons (instead of cars)! Moore said that a certain fighter plane was built in 61 minutes on one of these factory assembly-lines. This is what we need - STAT - to Answer the Most Pressing Need of the Acute Cases of Corona Virus Illness that are about to explode in our midst! We need a massive, emergency production of respirators - Yesterday!
If the Greatest Generation could do it back in 1941, we certainly should be able to assemble a Corp of Engineers [Army or otherwise] to reconfigure some factory assembly lines and start producing respirators on a Massive, Emergency Scale.
[Since nobody is planning on flying much for the foreseeable future, plane manufacturers might be a good place to start!]
4
Reading all those statements about the condition of the healthcare system I ask myself. Where are all those Republican Fundamentalists that keep on bragging day at night that America has the best health system in the world and that universal healthcare will ruin it all. Bunch of hypocrites.
4
Subject our great military to taunts and rock throwing by protesters and streets thugs? No thank you. Not a good idea Governor.
1
Save us Uncle Trump! We have bankrupted our state so even though we hate you and talk about you and your family as if you are animals we expect you to save us and pay for the NY Guard that is under the control of Cuomo. If Cuomo wanted he could order the guard out tonight.
1
Hey Gov, what have you done and what have you not done that you can do?
Answer that then get to work. Close up the schools and bars and get serious.
1
Thank you Governor Cuomo. Thank you!
5
Hailing from New York’s corona epicenter of New Rochelle, I can attest that Governor Cuomo has been dealing with the crisis on the front line from the day it was clear that the virus was here. when your home town is front page news and on TV 24/7, you are glued to updates and all information.
In just a few weeks since the local outbreak was first reported, Cuomo has moved with incredible speed and authority. He is the leader that times like these call for. Same goes for our Mayor, Noam Bramson. But good state and local government can only do so much.
That said, these two men are incredibly bright and dynamic leaders that are able to assess logically, reasonably and most important, quickly both immediate needs and long range solutions. They knew from day-one that this will not just blow over.
As such, if I were Trump and his advisors, I would pay attention to what the Cuomo has to say, most particularly his concern regarding the need for immediate action.
Looking at the X/Y chart used by governments and journalists, the focus is on the dotted horizontal line (representing resource limits) and the two bell curves; one blowing through the dotted line and the other peaking just below it.
Instead, it should be on where we are at this moment in time and not the forecasts of infected or dead. It is where we are at this moment in time.
And here we are only at the beginning of the growth curve. It will only explode!
Minimizing that explosion is all that matters.
8
This headline is deeply irresponsible in suggesting the military as a whole should be involved. The headline should have been clear that Cuomo is referring to the Army Corps of Engineers. Way to start wild speculation and panic, NYT.
3
I agree with Governor Cuomo. Why pay for homeland security if it can't secure any vents or beds for us? Why send cruise ship passengers to army bases and leave sick COVID-19 inmates in jail. A secure treatment center needs to be set up to care for inmates who have COVID-19, they can't stay in jails. Infection control in jails is a joke. Jail administrators plan on dumping their sick inmates at the hospital and discharging them from custody. Judges, act now, empty the jails of probation violators and other non-violent offenders. I saw a 26 week bleeding pregnant woman in jail for not paying fines. So stupid.
4
“I don't take responsibility at all” DJT, stated at hastily formed WH-Rose Garden News Conference, 13. Mar. 2020
3
Perhaps Trump and his lieutenants believe the new corona virus is the act of "god" levied on humans for "original" and continuing sin, atheism, LGBTQ, and the other junk thinking that emanates from the minds of "believers". Let the " hand of god" make the "final judgement".
1
The president is more concerned about getting a pen mark on his shirt. Also, he doesn’t read (anything?) the Times. Maybe if a Fox News host gave this message with a sock puppet our president would get it.
2
Trump should be making plans like this for every large city.
Instead he's focused only on himself.
He needs to be censured & people with experience need to work together to stop this.
Clinton, Bush & Obama are all friends & have dealt with many tragedies. I'm sure they would get this under control in less than a week. Call ur Senators & Congressmen!
2
had thought yesterday that this must be what our parents and grandparents went through with World War II. Maybe this is our WWIII......
3
What good is the military going to do??? Let's all hunker down and stop expecting someone else to fix what only we can. Let's just all blame the President and then write a story on how it affects the trans community. C'mon Times, get over yourself. Lets avoid large gatherings.
Apparently Ohio’s Governor DeWine was able to pick up the phone and get waivers from the department of agriculture to keep school meals available while schools are closed for the next 3 weeks but Governor Cuomo seems to be relying on an Op-Ed to coax the Trump administration to order school closings and provide financial assistance.
To top it off, he’s expecting the health care system to get so over burdened he wants the army corp of engineers to provide beds and assistance yet despite this, he still hasn’t ordered school closings to “flatten the curve” of infection rates so that hospitals can handle the expected patient load.
Of course more goes on behind the scenes but the impression I get from this op-ed is Cuomo is hoping Trump picks up The NY Times and reads this request. A recklessly ineffective tact in my humble opinion. You’ve got the power to take action, do it!
59
@Michael Miritello
It's possible the op-ed was written a couple of days ago and only now published. And what do you bet NY schools close soon. But no one should think that's an easy decision to make. It places an enormous burden on families with younger kids. Social isolation in children and teens will lead to a spike in depression and anxiety.
But kudos to the governor of Ohio for some quick thinking.
20
@Bob
I agree - this is not an easy decision to make and it is clear that Cuomo understands the magnitude of the problem. As I just commented in response to Michael, the press conference that Cuomo had today clears it up for anyone who thinks he is being cavalier. A. We desperately need a coordinated federal response and B. People with school aged children who work in hospitals or other essential services need a solution for child care. There are 35,000 children in the Cincinnati schools, 47,000 in the Seattle schools, and over 1 MILLION students in NYC schools. People who can afford to stay home are not sending their kids to school. But many people do not have this option and they are working on solutions for this.
26
@Michael Miritello
Cuomo seems to be on top of this crisis as best as any governor can be without a coordinated effort by the federal government. As you already imagined, there is more going on behind the scenes and this article is just one tiny piece of the puzzle. No one thinks that Trump will pick up the NYT and that this is the only way that he would learn about Cuomo's request. Do you think Cuomo has not thought through his stance on keeping some schools open for now? Do you think this is his first choice or he has not made this decision because he is not taking this seriously enough or doesn't understand the flatten the curve concept? So what else could it be? Why wouldn't he order the schools closed everywhere? If you watch his recent press conference you will understand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj8UKPDziss Go to minute 15
27
It's pushing five-thirty pm EDT, and I am watching another insipid public relations effort by our president, the Great Pretender, and his supreme lackey with the current title of vice president of the United States.
Just a few days ago, president Trump declared the concern over the corona virus to be a hoax and insinuated that it was part of a left-wing plot to bring him down. Very shortly thereafter, he declared a national emergency. After asinine, endless bragging about the performance of the stock market and economy under his watch, he acts as if current conditions are unrelated to his time in office. Rush Limbaugh, recently awarded a medal of freedom by president Trump, has likened the virus to the common cold. VP Pence seems qualified to head up the administration's response to the crisis only if you believe he has special pull with the man upstairs. Say a prayer.
I feel as though I am living through an episode of national insanity reminiscent of documentaries I have viewed concerning Germany in the 1930's. I never understood how enough of the U.S. electorate could rationalize a vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. But even more confounding than that is the fact that almost none of them are able to face the fact that they made an epic mistake.
I can't see how this doesn't get much worse before it gets any better.
4
Tell everyone to stay home. Use the national guard to ramp up production of N95masks and full body protective suits for healthcare workers, cashiers, garbage men, EMT's and other frontline workers. If healthcare workers get sick this thing gets ugly fast. If we had instituted Social Distancing last week then we wouldn't be in such a panic this week.
1
New York is taking the coronavirus seriously.
I hear that new testing methods are being
done without even leaving your house!
No hospital or office visit necessary!
All you have to do is mail a stool sample to:
Amdrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capital Building
Albany, NY 12224
Sensible urgency I'm afraid will fall on deaf ears. Too little too late.
This situation was in the making for 20 years. There have been warnings and sadly, left or right politically spread false information on numerous issues to their constituents just when social media was taking off. The divide caused Americans to become tribal. The half that felt left behind under Obama were ignored, hence we got Trump. Trump is too egomaniacal to take sensible advice. I pray that illness does not afflict anyone, but the people who think this president is so great are about to have a serious wake up call. The left is not blameless that decent Americans could ever vote for a man like this. He is not a leader of the country, he's a leader of a tribe. If you voted for him, you have now helped create deadly ramifications of this explosive pandemic.
Good for you Guv’nr!
Every war, every depression and every recession was started by right wing ideology. And, it took Democrat’s to save the nation!
1
The idea of mobilizing the military is a very, very bad idea considering the powers they will be granted will extend, ultimately, to an insane man in the White House.
Mobilizing the military is thus the very worst thing we could do right now.
1
Great article but it misses on essential point: Trump doesn't read or, for that matter, think beyond his "genius" nose which only grows longer by his white house press conferences.
1
Whatever President Trump does, there will be a democrat ready to one-up him. Can SOMETHING please rise above politics? Having said that, we need to see action. Specifically, an emergency increase in hospital beds and every single mechanical respirator available in those hospitals.
What about ventilators?
Without them, the ICU beds will be mostly useless.
1
If China can build 1000 bed Coronavirus hospital in 10 days, Can an American military do it? We American citizens ope so. We need it to fight this war on all of us.
2
All troops and medical personnel should be brought home from abroad to fight this domestic war.
Trump wants to keep the number of confirmed cases low ...
Well you have been mean to The child President and there are no November electoral college votes for him in NY so build your own hospitals.
There is no help for you from the truculent child.
Call Mr Bloomberg and tell him to stop wasting billions of dollars on advertising.
YES, Governor Cuomo! Well said. But you can go ahead and put a curfew in place, and/or a quarantine around NYC... Don't wait for the Trump administration. They do not know what they are doing.
No. No. No. I’m sorry Governor, I respect you leadership greatly, but under no a circumstances can we mobilize the military here inside the country, under this President, at his discretion. He has already demonstrated to the country his abuse of authority and that he controls the Judicial and US. Senate branches of government.
As Gos as my witness, you grant him these powers and he will take a page out of Georgia’s playbook and suspend the General Election in November, weaving a tale of doing this as a national security precaution and the US Senate and the US Supreme Court, via partisan splits, will support him.
Please Governor, you of all people can not possibly fall for this trap.
44
I love how Democrats who have accused Trump of being a dictator for more than three years now want him to behave like a dictator. Military on the streets and nationalizing business is now a-okay.
8
@Keith Colonna What is your suggestions for saving lives and preventing hospitals from collapsing? Calling in the Army Corps of "Engineers" is not militarizing the city.
3
Keith, Write in again once you or your loved ones get the virus. Why in God’s name wouldn’t be use all possible means? This is a nationwide MASH unit.
2
Given 729 cases today, I calculate 41.6 days until there are a million cases in New York. N=1/.69*(6*log(10)-log(729))*4. I may be off by a week or so. Check my math.
5
We are living in a science fiction horror movie, the latest thing in reality entertainment. But there are no space ships, no flying saucers, no mysterious pods, and no gigantic gorilla climbing the Empire State Building. Rather, our enemy is a spherical microscopic entity with small extensions arising from its central body. There are no lasers, no ray guns, no artillery or fighter jets that may be useful in destroying earth’s enemy. There will be no hero walking off into the sunrise with earthlings savoring the dawn of a new day. Instead, our salvation exists in some biochemistry lab in some university in some one or all of the many nations making up our planet. It exists in a test tube, in a beaker, in some distillate over the flame of a Bunsen burner as an antiviral vaccine or pill or capsule is discovered, tested, and eventually sent out to rid our world of its latest scourge. No, the US military cannot destroy this enemy, nor can it neutralize it. But the military presence will certainly take some of the burden of providing needed logistical services from the shoulders of volunteers and first responders. Indeed, it is peacetime in the US, but we are nonetheless defending ourselves in a battle that simply cannot be lost. So, in New York State it’s all hands on deck in what is becoming a life and death struggle against a silent and poorly understood alien enemy. In the absence of any coherent leadership from Washington, Governor Cuomo has stepped into the void. Kudos!!!
152
@Unaffiliated China has closed all of its dedicated COVID-19 health care centers.
Many hospitals are already creating in house “circus tents” to house additional patients.
Just because an 82y.o. With a long history of emphysema dies while being positive for COVID-19 is no justification for a nonsensical political stunt.
3
I understand the benefits and even the necessity of using the military, and of course I want as few Americans as possible to develop severe illness. I have to be honest, though, and admit that the idea of a power-hungry aspiring autocrat deploying the military among civilians in any capacity makes me a bit uncomfortable. Trump does not operate in our reality, and he looks for any opportunity to gain money, power, and veneration in all situations, regardless of how shameless and petty it makes him look. I don't think anything will go amiss in the immediate future, but I do fear the ideas it may put in his head. I will never trust the Trump regime. They have spent 3.5 years proving to me that there is no low to which they won't sink in their quest to be in control. I hate how paranoid I sound, but I feel I'm not being totally unreasonable.
377
@13thBaronet Amen! Not paranoid, just realistic. As we have collectively be lamenting for months -- no, years -- there is no bottom for how low they’ll sink.
50
@13thBaronet
Your concern is well founded but I think it is naive to believe that Trump is the only autocrat waiting in the wings. Our government is built on a distrust of unchecked power, without regard to the hands it is in. I am skeptical, and fearful, of all concentrations of power, public or private. And I fear most of all that people will surrender freedom for safety and security.
16
@13thBaronet
Just the fact that we're using word regime almost on a daily basis,
it use to be as a reference for other undeveloped countries with autocratic regimes, now it's US.
Deep sadness and tears...
We thought we're better than that:(
27
Governor Cuomo continues to grandstand about the Wuhan virus.
1. A mass testing program is underway. VP Pence and the federal corona virus task force explained it today in more detail.
2. The governor needs to do his job and make the hard decisions now about school closings and business curtailment in order to "flatten the curve" of infection rates. Instead he appears to be trying to blackmail the federal government for money.
3. Why are the Empire State's hospitals so under prepared with inadequate ICU facilities, and apparently worse off than other states? Are they in violation of federal legislation for pandemic preparedness, for which they received funds?
"All of this disruption will have immense financial and economic impact, and federal assistance will be needed to soften the blow. When schools close, localities will need help to provide meal programs to students and child-care programs to parents. Unemployment will skyrocket, as will insurance, health care and education costs."
Why...??? should the federal government pay for the above?
In addition to Cuomo's excellent suggestion for using the USACE, the military already has the capability to deploy and erect field hospital ICUs with portable CT scanners in existing bio-terrorism planning.
3
I don't understand why the Democrats are not giving a more forceful message about the lack of testing. I don't understand why the Times is not advocating for much greater testing, or the closing of bars and restaurants, since it will happen very soon anyway. Also, one wonders why the Times didn't complain about schools not closing? Was that too much about just the city of New York? I'm happy the editorial page listed the failings of Pelosi caving on adequate sick leave. This will matter less when businesses shut down anyway.
Why isn't the testing story a banner headline? Explain me that. At least Cuomo knew to put first. Even then, I don't know why he doesn't raise a bigger fuss about it. Where are the lawsuits, the outrage, the protests, the greater campaign and mobilization of opinion? What good is the freedom to protest when it is unused? What is the Times responsibility to emphasize more stories on testing, maybe without the pretty disgusting front page picture that dissuaded me from buying a hard copy?
Thank you Governor Cuomo for providing real answers!
Mr Trump, declare a Public Emergency.
Ban gatherings - in direct violation of the US Constitution.
Order religious institutions closed.
Close down any place people gather even to eat.
Close down schools and universities.
Bring in the US military - not just the National Guard, but roll the tanks down streets.
Maybe institute house-to-house searches and require testing (and records, please don’t give them to ICE.
Delay the process deciding who will run against you.
We STILL seem to be missing a transmission vector: current line - people disperse aerosols when they sneeze, cough, or for that matter breath. The virus remains virulent for 8-14 hours, and is picked up on skin, making its way, somehow, into the body. Or, it has an extremely long/variable incubation period. No matter.
This could well crash the economy, since there’s no money coming into the Treasury to pay for anything.
Don’t stop building your border wall or ICE invasion in our Sanctuary Cities.
Don’t do anything to keep banks open or supply food to those put out of work.
And I trust you won’t use this as an excuse to delay the upcoming conventions or elections!
You’d never do that.
Your pal Andy.
NOTE: EATOIN SHRDLU is a member of several high-risk for Coronavirus infection.
He is NOT going to see democracy die here in the name of “flattening the curve” of a disease - especially where the “missing link” may well be a high percentage of persons who may carry the disease asymptotically.
Wat. You want Trump to act like a competent President of the United States of America? Dream on.
Why not to use hotels in NYC and in other large cities? They are empty now. The government can envoke imminent domain, or compensate the hotels since the repercussions on economy is a greater threat than the virus.
We can reinforce them with military medical units and there will be millions of beds available.
And, of course, the president, from the goodness of his heart, will offer his properties all over the world to help fight the foreign virus.
If everyone could get back to basics and use their God given faith and common sense we should all know, that this to shall pass. Last I checked, most of us do live and die in this world together and at this time, we all do have to deal with COVID-19 no matter who we are or what political party we may be affiliated with. Could it be possible to stop wasting precious time and energy on political bickering and as individuals please start trying to work better together?
This a well trodden path for Gov.Cuomo, ( mere shadow of his father) I'm going to describe this a preemptive blaming. How does he have time to pen this opinion piece. I suppose there is always time to attempt a political play.
I for one am glad Gov. Cuomo is my governor and that he is thoughtful, intelligent and understands the fatalities we will face if the Army Corps of Engineers should be activated now. We don't have enough ventilators, beds, hospital rooms, staff, etc for the amount of people who will very shortly need them. All hands should be on deck and activated now if we are to manage this crisis. The President, VP (and any sentient human being) should know this already and do it. Not tomorrow, but today. This crisis is bigger than 9-11 and it's time we started acting like it.
1
I agree with the governor, but still I wonder why are state run casinos still open?
This requires an effort unseen since WWII. All resources should be mobilized. The armed services should be involved. Factories should be retooled to create all supplies- masks, gowns, ventilators, testing kits. Resources should be poured into the healthcare system. Mortgage loans should be on hold. Basic allowances should be available to meet basic needs.
If we can give trillions in tax breaks, spend trillions on the military, etc then surely we can help the citizens of this country get through a crises of previously unknown proportions, and save lives.
And, we should have a leader with a depth of intelligence, insight, spirit and soul to guide us through this. We do not have that,
1
Governor Cuomo, don't encourage Trump do mobilise the military.
Once he mobilises it, and this crisis is over, he'll find a way to keep them mobilised and after the election try and use the military to keep him in power.
If he loses, he'll declare the election a fraud, and call it void and refuse to accept the results.
If he wins, he'll see it as a vindication and a sign that the electorate want him as POTUS for life.
Either way, don't encourage him.
1
Governor Cuomo,
I welcome your leadership in this time.
A threat I have not seen addressed is the peril faced as a result of rent obligations of individuals unable to pay because they are no longer earning wages or by retailers and restaurants closed because of the crisis.
I suggest the following:
1. Rents will be abated by 80 percent in the case of individuals no longer earning as a result of the Coronavirus or retailers owned by individuals rather small businesses.
2. Financial institutions will not be permitted to foreclose on mortgages due by individuals or businesses unable to make payments as a result of the Coronavirus. This would include mortgages due by individuals and by landlords not collecting rents as a result of Coronavirus.
I am of course concerned about the financial risks of homeowners and renters. I’m also worried our country will lose the many retailers and restaurants forced to close because of the Coronavirus.
A concerned New Yorker
5
What a leader! He is intelligent and has his priorities in order. I thank him and his staff for being on top of this situation. I feel hopeful that we will get out of this pandemic as healthy as we can because he is NYS’ leader. War time consigliere- that’s what my husband said about Cuomo, and I agree 100%!
3
Yea, it's really hard to decide what to do and so little time to plan. These governors are just so impatient. Maybe we should all just post the question on Facebook to ensure we have the best advice available. Jared is definitely at the vanguard.
1
Dear Governor Cuomo,
All good ideas. I suggest not to wait for FDA approval to run local hi through put tests. FDA procedure is mainly geared for approving commercial product sales across state boundaries. NY state can do it’s own testing for New Yorkers. Form your own group of experts and ask their opinion of the tests validation data. Are they accurate and precise? Same thing with hospital beds. Just do it even if it means the state goes into debt. I am afraid policy in Washington is not geared towards high population density states like NY or California. You may wait a long time for Trump’s help.
3
I have mixed feelings about encouraging Trump to activate the military. Once in place, do you think he’ll ever withdraw them, especially as it gets closer to the election?
6
As a member of the vulnerable population, my expectation is nothing more than a hope that if I become ill, no more than an effort commensurate with my value to society is expended on my behalf. Hello ice floe!
2
I truly don't think we, as a nation or a culture, could have possibly have been less prepared for this inevitable public health crisis... despite many millions dead from the Spanish Flu, the Asian Flu, Hong Kong Flu, HIV/AIDS. Plus, we barely "dodged" a few more recent 'pandemic bullets': Ebola, Zika, H1N1 (2009 strain).
Hopefully this one will finally wake us up to better prepare and save potentially millions of lives. We could fully fund it by diverted just 1-2% of the Rentagone annual weapons systems budget, and through 'no brainer' health care waste cuts.
There's no question that a major pandemic poses far more risk to us than does terrorism or military invasion.
5
We are now months into this pandemic. While China, South Korea and Italy scrambled (total lock downs, massive temporary treatment centers, testing), our politicians offered platitudes and hand washing tutorials. Virtually every state has cases now and each cluster of cases represents a possible epicenter each with its own logistical nightmares. Thanks to this criminal inactivity and a health care system set up for maximum profit instead of the delivery of basic care, we are now on the cusp of an almost unfathomable public health catastrophe. The under fifty rule for groups will prove truly prescient when it comes to planning the tens of thousands of upcoming funerals.
5
Governors should not wait for the inept federal government to allow them to do what is right. They should work together and contact the test kit companies themselves. Ignore the federal government and do what's right.
5
Thank you Gov. Cuomo. Your speeches on TV are reassuring.
Of course, "there should be a uniform federal standard"
We need national leadership and 'equal protection of the laws'. And that goes for many things, to ensure our safety and health.
But in America, the concept of 'uniform federal standards' has been labeled as practically un-American.
3
Gov Cuomo failed to mention one additional need: medical personnel.
If you add n number of hospital beds, you need x number of nurses to take care of the patients in those beds. If you manufacture an additional 65 000 ventilators, to put them to use you need y number of respiratory therapists. And so on.
Medicine is a very labor-intensive field.
It sounds from other responses here that the military medical service does not have the numbers to loan out staff. Also, this would seem not to be a good time to raid foreign countries for trained medical personnel. Is there anyone left at the CDC to work on this problem?
5
The current mindset apparently has lost any sense of proportionality, 6 people died in California of Covid-19, I am sure more died in the last hour in traffic accidents. China, a country of 1.3 billion, the hardest hit, had 3k deaths. That's a death rate of 0.00023% .
Nobody has died in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan .... 38 states in all.
And if we indeed under-count drastically as many believe because testing was rolled out so late: Where are all the people who died of Covid-19?
Obviously, it's terrible to lose any person to a new disease, but public policy should keep the overall good of all citizens in mind - shutting down large parts or the economy seems to be a case of the proverbial burning down the house after a rodent infestation.
2
@John Thank you, John.
If Trump declares a national emergency or whatever is best politically and legally, can they commandeer hotels to become temporary hospitals for this crisis?
4
I am not sure that Trump knows the difference between a national emergency and martial law, but given his basic personality, I expect him to use this crisis as a power grab and deny us as many rights as he can, the right to vote being first and foremost.
3
My nephew is a naval medic, one of the few assigned to the US Marine Corps, which is technically part of the US Navy and has no medics of its own. I know nothing about the ratio of military staff to military medics (doctors and medics), but given deployments, I suspect it's not high. Do we really want to divert military medical personnel from caring for our troops to performing civilian duties?
If we are going to "deploy the military" to address the coronavirus pandemic, are we going to expect US military medics to meet the medical needs of both the military and US civilian populations? Won't Putin & Friends just love that?
What else can you expect a soldier to do in a medical emergency?
Shoot the sick?
This whole idea of "mobilizing the military" to meet a medical emergency is nothing more than a cover-up for lack of better ideas, whether it comes from Trump, Biden or Sanders.
Furthermore, diverting the very skilled talents of military medical personnel from their primary duty: assuring the medical health of our troops; to working in civilian health services diminishes our national security.
In the meanwhile, there are probably (tens of?) thousands of military-trained medical staff, ones who never became nurses or doctors; and maybe even (tens of?) thousands more civilians like myself who worked as hospital orderlies and nurse assistants who still know the protocols and still have the skills but who are no longer "certified" to work, who would serve if asked.
2
Every time I listen to Governor Cuomo's calm, reasoned but authoritative voice I regret his decision not to run for president this year.
5
Sue, DiBlasio shows leadership he has been more proactive and he shows good administrative judgement; it is Cuomo who is wandering, vague and feckless; woe are the people of NY, my friends are appalled at Cuomo’s lack of leadership in NY.
Both Democratic and Republican governors as well as mayors have showed great leadership, it so Cuomo.
Not so, Cuomo; he shows no leadership.
Yes, yes and yes. Thank you for your sensible and forceful letter to our rudderless President. It's about time to insert sense into this debacle of crisis management. Thousands of American lives are at stake.
5
Gov Cuomo urging the President to call in the Army to build more hospitals? This is the same Governor who presided over the destruction not many years ago of Long Island College Hospital, a full service hospital which served a large population including the Red Hook Housing project and four sizable brownstone neighborhoods. Now we are watching luxury condos going up where our hospital once stood. We have no hospital in this time of crisis, and Cuomo is presenting himself as a great planner -- our savior. Perhaps he has a short memory.
Bloomberg, too, approved closing St Vincent's Hospital in the Village, also a large hospital, also replaced by luxury condos. DeBlasio also capitulated in the LICH situation, in favor of real estate developers. There is something wrong with this picture -- and these politicians.
13
St. Vincent’s closing especially hurt, as they were staffed by the heros, including Sisters, who worked through the AIDS virus crisis years. This is where the poor could show up and be helped, including me, back then. They had a strong psychiatry department, including compassionate addictions treatment supports.
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@ELF
Hey, slick.... We outsiders would all appreciate some verification. Links, please, and none from infowhackowars, please.
The state of New York has the authority to call up thousands of National Guard personnel and to hire architects as well as engineers to proceed with such a project. Is Mr, Cuomo taking any such action and thereby setting an example as well as alleviating a difficult situation or does he intend to content himself with an Opinion piece?
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@Quiet Waiting
Why do something with your own resources when you can exploit another's resources for "free"?
Besides, the NY guards are busy in New Rochelle.
I can't agree that our military should be used for civilian tasks. The purpose of the military is to defend us against foreign enemies. Using the military in the way Governor Cuomo suggests would cut down our military preparedness drastically.
Besides reducing our nation's security, using the military for civilian tasks would set a precedent of making our military a source of cheap labor, and further enable and encourage presidential abuse of power.
2
@Jonathan, he didn't say bring in the entire military, just the Army Corps of Engineers. They helped rebuild the levees after Kateina. and if my history serves correctly, they were used by Eisenhower to build the Interstate highway system.
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The ACE does not “build” anything, it contracts with civilian companies for projects. The majority of personnel that work ACE are civilian employees. The uniform combat engineers of movie fame are involved with tactical engineer support - “Fight, Build and Destroy.” Our leadership needs to stop envisioning the military as a do it all John Wayne force.
@Jonathan
Oh, please. There are plenty of military "$tanding around getting paid for nothing".
Absolutely.
Gov Cuomo, and essentially every other Governor, Mayor and County Executive, is DOING MORE than the POTUS. Why? They're smarter and they care about their citizens and not worried about image, ego or their re-election.
Kudos to Governor Cuomo and all others for putting forth ideas and plans to be discussed. Will all be implemented? Of course not. But you need these ideas, brainstorm to come up with plans, backup plans and communication directives for both the tactical and strategic health of their citizens.
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The Gov already has his army he can activate. Its called the NY National Guard. The regular army is a shell that is manned by the Guard from each state. We dont have a large standing army. Any troops he gets over the NY National Guard will be taken from the Guard from other states which I dont think the other Governors would appreciate. You dont need an Army till you need one.
2
Guess what I learned from reading the article.
Cuomo isn’t asking for gunships and tanks. He’s asking for the Corps of Engineers and the Reserves, who have capacities States do not have.
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@Robert
You know what I learned from an almost 20 year war of choice? Vehicles do not run unless there is a group of people maintaining them and operating them. Needed goods do not have their own feet.
So here we are moving in to major flood and construction season, the Army Corps busy season and Genius Andy wants to divert them from their day job?
Must be something in the NYC rich ruling class peoples' water that makes them incapable of seeing any farther than their finger tips.
I hope the conscientious american public will understand the gravity of the situation and encourage the senate to speak up. isn't that their job?
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I think of my friends and family in the New York area; is there readiness to care for people sickened with the virus; and are people able to be tested yet, for corona virus 19?
Tune in tonight to the Democratic Presidential Debate; but first, we need to ask ourselves what we believe we deserve as Americans, and do we extend care and compassion for humanity, for each other, and for our planet?
Probably many of us have read everything we can to be well informed about this new virus. Yet in our for profit medical care epoch; I feel the need to mention the fight we are having about health care. If they are selling us health/ medical care, how good is it really? Or is the hippocratic oath, in which a medical practitioner 's primary goal is the care and healing of the patient gone with the wind?
Governor Cuomo's plea to the president certainly doesn't inspire confidence. It seems to be either an empty publicity stunt; or it seems to suggest chaos around who could afford excellent medical care, and who who receive the ghastly implications of military care in a war zone. Sorry but I can't help but imagine these scenarios
Meanwhile; apparently here in Utah almost no one can get tested; or, illogically, a person can only get tested for the virus if they have had contact with someone " who already tested positive"
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Dear Governor Cuomo,
Commercial airliners already have emergency oxygen systems. Some have facilities to provide continuous oxygen on a long-term basis with tanks replaced in the cargo hold -- gaseous manifold systems. Some even have existing Pressure-demand oxygen systems.
I propose these planes be used on the ground as mobile emergency field hospitals for COVID-19 patients in respiratory distress, but without other medical issues (like needing dialasys as well). If each seat or each row needed to be tented, at least the O2 delivery system would already be in place.
The airline industry could be incentivized, when its planes are grounded, to select those planes best suited to serve to thus save lives. When clusters arise in far-flung locations, these planes can be easily moved.
9
@cf, ppl on vents need pressure gradients that airplane O2 systems don't have. The positioning of the patients also have to be altered at times for optimization. Did you see the pix of the ppl upside down in Italy? These were last ditch efforts to save their lives Lastly, there are a finite number of respiratory therapists in the US to run all extra these vents I keep hearing people expect will magically appear.
2
The Respiratory Therapists will have to teach the nurses how to run the vents. Many RNs already know how and its within their licensure if they complete a competency check off. RT students need early graduation and licensure to join the workforce.
2
You get that they don’t have beds, showers, toilets, and about a zillion other things, right?
Self-sufficiency is what we need by taking control of our hospitals, malls, and schools and converting them into makeshift testing/treatment centers in absence of outside help which may never happen.
2
To the Governor's point: FDA should expand the number of companies that manufacture testing kits, within safety guidelines.
FDA, can you take action on your own?
1
Selected closed schools can be repurposed as hospitals. Plenty of space with showers, kitchens, etc. No need to build, just stock with medical supplies (beds, ventilators, etc) and staff, which I suspect is another supply shortfall.
2
NYT, thanks for the excellent and timely reporting. Please research an obscure federal law, the Defense Production Act of 1950. Enacted after World War II, it authorizes the federal government to take over manufacturing facilities in a national crisis requiring ramped up production of anything, not just munitions. This can be invoked to produce tests now, as well as a vaccine later.
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God bless the governor for being a man who understands what's coming and who is doing everything that can be done to mitigate a terrible crisis that can no longer be prevented.
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@RJ From a governor who cannot fix NYC's subways and neck deep in corruption.
Mobilize the military? It's really doubtful Corps of Engineers has many intensive-care beds and medical equipment in their inventory. Plus the members of the military are just as likely to get the virus as anyone else.
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@AlennaM You are correct, but the US Military does have portable field hospitals, along with ICU capability and portable CT scanners in their expeditionary forces.
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The military medical strength is almost zero. The days of the large field hospitals ended 30 years ago. The massive medical depots stocked full of supplies ended with the Cold War. An 80 bed Combat Support Hospital is not even a drop in the bucket and a Navy hospital ship isn’t much more. If the National Guard is deployed then providers will be taken from their civilian practice. Like everybody else the military has downsized and everything is just-in-time delivery. Welcome to the new reality governor.
3
The Engineers could build Mash Hospitals. They can use the Mash Hospitals for triage.
I’m not a giant fan, but Governor Cuomo has done a good job so far in this crisis. He has stepped up.
8
Why is our government not mobilising industry to build more respirators. Article after article describes how the current shortage will force Doctors to make life and death decisions between patients. Respirators are not rocket science. We know how to build them. Why are we not having industry commandeered to significantly ramp up the production of this equipment.
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@Alan Raderman I think the impediment is is just who will pay for them? Yes, we'll need more if this pandemic continues to grow, but what happens to all of this equipment when the pandemic subsides? It always boils down to money – who has it, who wants it, and what's the financial upside to giving it?
1
Hospital beds
In short supply.
How to ramp up?
How about if the hospital staff that is swamped just sequestrates the hotel across the street? Move nursing staff, newly recruited from retired persons, in. Running the kitchen and serving three meals, using hotel staff, basic institution food. Book the whole place at government hotel rates, 24/7.?
Hoels are empty. Staff needs work hours.
1
@Ed C Man Okay, but if it was my hotel, I'd have to ask who would ever want to stay in my hotel again once it has the reputation of being a concentrated coronavirus hot-spot during the pandemic? That means I would be pushing somebody to buy my hotel before using it, if the effects of that usage would render my hotel worthless. Buying a viable hotel could be a pretty expensive proposition.
Good idea except the “newly recruited from retired people” part. They are the most at risk.
1
Leaving behind past grudges and working for the common good of all, now we're talking. Problem: The king of keeping grudges and deliverer of retribution for those that he finds offensive is unlikely to let any of that history go. As to the military, calling for the President to unleash federal troops as he sees fit might be a bad call for all. A coordinated federal military response that is applied uniformly at this president's whim is a bridge too far for this citizen.
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A story in the Globe and Mail yesterday mentions that the 2nd Cup coffee chain is not accepting cash for now. The story didn't say why, but I assume it's because of all the handling and travelling cash gets.
Something to think about.
2
I've been limiting my outside activities for the past 2 weeks, only going to the supermarket a few times, and that's it. My husband, on the contrary, works in retail and while his hours have been slightly cut back, continues to go to work. I worry about his becoming infected. What I do not know is, really, how to prepare in terms of what goods I should stockpile and for how long I might be confined to my home. I'm guessing 6 weeks at a minimum if China is any example, but it might be longer because China moved more aggressively and faster to shut down completely and thereby limit contagion. I think we lost the past month to prepare as we saw what was happening in China, South Korea and Italy. Now we're behind the curve. It really feels like we're being attacked by a worldwide plague the likes of which haven't been seen in my lifetime, that's for sure. So for now I battle cabin fever with a glass of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay and episodes of Trailer Park Boys or one of the other multi-season programs that distract and entertain. I wonder how many others find themselves in a similar situation right now here in NYC - thank heaven for our delivery-people, transit workers and others who continue to work unabated. PROTECT YOURSELVES, FOLKS!
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I direct the busiest emergency department in Westchester County, New York the State epicenter of the pandemic. The virus is real and can be devastating. The rate of patients presenting to us with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 has dramatically increased. Only a test result that takes 3 days to result will answer if I’m an alarmist, but I believe we are at the precipice of a public health disaster. A country with vast resources will be overrun if we don’t stop the virus here and now. Please don’t let our fight go unnoticed before it’s too late.
Governor Cuomo, you should call me and hear it from the front lines.
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THANK YOU Dr. Torres! God speed. I will be thinking of you and your team.
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Thank you, Rafael E Torres, MD.
Better self-isolate and social distance, America.
This is deadly serious.
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I trust Donald Trump exactly zero to use troops on home soil for the common good.
No. Absolutely not.
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We should bring all our soldiers home and train them to be healthcare workers. They would do more good here and would have good joins once they left the military.
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Yes America's govs are taking the lead in thinking and speaking about dealing with the coronavirus which is essential to get us thru this crisis. Sad to just reda Trump is busy tweeting about Hillary's Emails ,does he realize that he is President now and he is not running vs her anymore ? Is this another indication that Trump should resign now from the presidency as Pence is doing a fine job leading the country with Trump who is a source of misinformation and the a major cause of confusion. Let Trump retire to Mar A Lago and tweet about Hillary and play with his Lego set and leave running the country to the adults left in the room !
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Oh please, troops are not medical teams. They will only make things more difficult and add a layer of oppression to any controls. Leave army off our streets; the cops are bad enough.
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Did you read what he is asking for? The Army Corp of Engineers to be tasked with building temporary hospital facilities. This was a key component of how the Chinese began to get control of the epidemic there.
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Mr Cuomo, close the darn bars and restaurants in NYC and elsewhere in the state to stop the spread! The irresponsibility of NY leaders is appalling. You want the National Guard and military to set up hospitals? How about stopping the spread that is creating more patients.
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@Chris Thank you Chris. I couldn't agree with you more. Close the schools and employ distance learning alternatives. Close bars or limit occupancy to 50 or less. Distribute masks at all subway stations and enforce riders to wear them. Stop the spread of the pandemic. Don't focus on building more hospitals because you refuse to take steps to curb the spread of the virus. I know, those steps will cost the City money, having the Army build hospitals won't.
Trump is finally living through the reality show he thinks he is so good at only this time the parameters are out of his control and the virus is in control.
Will he continue to gaslight Americans or listen to Dr. Anthony Fauci and close down America for business?
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Hundreds of people are crowded together for hours in airports waiting to be screened. Is there a better way to propagate the virus? There is a better way to screen-do it on the airplane while in flight, and separate the febrile passengers from everyone else. It's not brain surgery.
Daniel Allan, MD, FACS
Las Cruces, Newe Mexico
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We don't have to look too far into the past to find examples of warnings gone unheeded, Pearl Harbor, 911. Now Covid 19. When this is all over and we look back to the poor response, will we learn from it? My bet is no.
The last paragraph indicates Gov Cuomo is proposing a political truce for the public good..some raise an eyebrow.
Most Governors have the ability to mobilize the state's national guard. Get them ready to put up tents and cots and such if necessary.Doing so would risk precious political capital if the effort flops.. why hasn't Cuomo begun mobilization already?
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@Lane All we will learn is how better to dodge responsibility.
He has, in Westchester County.
I write to you as a concerned citizen. I live in Brooklyn and am fortunate and privileged enough to be able to work from home. My partner and I are staying indoors ( we have for the last 2 weeks) and if we do go out to get groceries we are practicing self-distancing. We also are ordering delivery or pick-up whenever we can. My family in CA is doing the same. But we are just 10-15 people. Across the street from me, a bar has a capacity of 200-250 people and it is still full to the brim. These are young kids who may have family in Long Island, the Bronx, etc who may even still live at home or visit family on weekends. Every day of inaction will just raise the number of infected and fatalities.
I appreciate the quick action the city and state have taken to not lie to the people of New York and to educate us on risk and precautionary measures we can take. However, the fact that schools are still open, that people are still eating out makes me worry incredibly. We are debating leaving the state at this point because I feel in a matter of days our hospitals will be overrun and those with chronic conditions will not be able to get help. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE it is always better to be safe than sorry. I fear NYC will become the next Lombardy and that we are only a few days from sealing that fate. Please do something. SHUT DOWN NYC.
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@Erika: YES !!
One option for quarantining people might be hostels, many of which are now located in former government facilities. For example, one hostel in San Francisco is located on former gov't hospital grounds (near Fort Mason) and another on a past military base (Golden Gate National Park). In Washington state, Fort Worden which is now a state park has facilities left over from when it was a military base. (In fact, my medical school used Fort Worden for overnight first-year student orientation.)
In West LA, the VA grounds had many abandoned buildings which were formerly offices and barracks. Some were used as nursing home facilities while I was there 2 decades ago but many were not used at all.
Many of these places have kitchens, bathrooms, and bunk beds already.
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We need makeshift hospitals, proper masks, gloves, ventilators, sanitizing supplies, medicines, etc.
We need to look at this like a wartime situation and start producing the things we need and not rely on China to supply them to us. IF America really is "number one" then now is the time to show it! We can do this!
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@Kara GOOD FOR YOU! I hope someone is listening...
Thank you, Governor, for this well planned and wise plea.
I hope that cool heads and intelligence will prevail.
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I'm way over on the Left Coast, but have great respect for Gov. Cuomo. I feel that New Yorkers are fortunate to have him as your Governor. He's been highly critical of Trump, so I doubt Donald would agree with me.
I watched Dr. Fauci this morning and he stressed the need to avoid what's happened in Italy. If our hospitals and doctors become overwhelmed, we could end up in a battlefield "triage" situation. That means doctors would be forced to make life and death decisions, treating those who have the best chance of survival.
Politics aside, I hope President Trump will step up and do the right things to prevent that scenario from coming to pass.
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Medical labs, which are crucial to our COVID-19 response, are being hurt by the 1/1/20 cuts in Medicare reimbursements for lab tests.
The government should be increasing reimbursements as part of their fiscal response rather than forcing labs to downsize.
They should also stop insurance companies from reducing reimbursements now.
We should be encouraging this mission critical industry during this time of great need.
No Gov. Cuomo we don't need guns, bullets and missiles, air craft carriers to defend us against an invisible coronavirus. We need an army of doctors and health care specialistsequipped with common sense to help nature to cure their patients. As my great family doctor Dr. Vasant Randivie said. "Doctors don't cure patients, Doctors help nature to cure themselves" Most persons (98%) under the age of 60, who may get infected with Coronavirus will not die. Their immune system is their best ally and will empower them to defeat the virus.
A humble message to presidents, governors and experts in Washington. Stop fear mongering and please stop panicking and don't be intimidated by the media. It is okay that the US does not have any specific ammunition like vaccines and antivirals against these invisible nano sized viruses, nature will take care of themselves, those seniors who need help, provide them all the help they can get. Do your best with whatever power you have and sit back and watch the passage of the pass over of the coronavirus. Don't disrupt anything beyond a 30 day period. Those at a low risk need not hunker down and stop living while surviving. If one is under 60, empower them to take the bull of coronavirus by its horns and keep doing businesses as usual with appropriate precautions. Panic not the Corona virus will. destroy the world. It is unfortunate that Italy has seen over 300 deaths in a day. Romeos should have not roamed around the world and brought home the virus
1
So Cuomo calls for the Army Corps of Engineers to tirnout and help build the hospital rooms we’re likely going to need badly, and your response is that a) he’s wrong, we need an army of docs sho’re apparently going ro be conjured out of thin air and work in thin air, and b) nothing to be done anyway, oh well.
Good grief.
1
The governors and mayors of this country are being proactive and thinking ahead. We have a President who is reactive and relying on his "hunches." We need to start setting up field hospitals and mobile testing facilities now, before the crush of victims overwhelms our hospitals. If by some miracle it doesn't happen, oh well we have wasted some money. If we don't our hospitals become crippled and our doctors and nurses are exposed and decimated.
The President will only act after the fact. And he doesn't plan ahead even when he finally acts. The cluster blank at the airports after he installed the travels bans is the latest example. We wasted two months while Trump called it a hoax set up by the Democrats and Fox repeated his propaganda. We have to act ahead of the surge that is coming. NOW.
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I am against any action towards mobilizing ANY element of the United States Army into the battle against the corona virus.
Sadly, it is just exactly because I have no trust whatsoever in Donald Trump and his administration. Donald Trump has shown thousands of times that he twists everything to his personal advantage with no consideration for others. Lest you forget, he's the Commander-in-Chief and can do anything he wants with HIS army in our communities.
Instead, state Governors should mobilize the National Guard in each of their states. The National Guard will remain out of the control of Donald Trump.
Sad, but true. Don't give Trump the keys.
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There isn’t a healthcare system in the world that can deal with a pandemic like this. You just hope to mitigate spread enough to not have a huge spike of cases overwhelming all resources. If corona infections can get spread out over even a few extra weeks, it will make a huge difference.
I’m also a retired Respiratory Therapist, the folks who run those ventilators you’ve heard of recently. You can maybe scrape together about 150,000 ventilators in the US by rummaging through hospital basements, stripping RT schools, and culling medical museums. That’s it! Additional patients will need to be manually bagged to live. Then we run out of resuscitation bags. I’ll help out, but I’m now in a high-risk group for contracting a pulmonary infection.
Even if you have the ventilators, where are the therapists to run them? Only Trump is dumb enough to think running a machine that breaths for you is easy.
Now I better understand the fear in my mom’s voice when she explained why I couldn’t go out play during an early 1950’s polio scare. I started my medical career at the very end of the iron lung era. I don’t advise going back there.
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Even better; ask China for help.
They know how to build hospitals in record time, with all the necessary equipment (beds, full-body protective gear), supplies and protocols
7
@Berry If I could weather this out in China I would
1
How about turning Governors's Island into a emergency hospital venue? Dont know if the infrrastucture is there but maybe it could work.
1
As a start he should mobilize the New York National Guard and put all Medical units where they can do the most good.
1
This "LETTER" is a Lie of omission. As the governor of the state he is in control of the NY State Guard. He has the authority to mobilize the National Guard for this exact purpose without the say so of the President. If he wants the Army mobilized, he has but to sign the order. He just doesn't want the responsibility once it goes wrong.
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@Luke Lancaster He already mobilized the Naitonal Guard. They are in New Rochelle, the city on lockdown. Guess you're not from here or haven't read the news the past week.
Even a cursory read of the opinion in no way suggests that the military should step in place of civilian control.
What the governor recommends is help in supporting and staffing medical care; not unlike calling on the National Guard to support communities in times of a national disaster.
The failure of leadership exhibited by the WH brings to mind the 10th amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."
4
Use every Trump hotel in the US for medical care.
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@troublemaker: Terrific idea!!
Cuomo! True leadership! Wish he were running for president!
5
What great sarcasm!
3
Can you also mobilize the mayor to close the public schools? Please remember this colossal failure to make a necessary difficult choice when it becomes clear that your choice exacerbated community spread. Also keep this mind when y’all are scratching your heads trying to figure out why it’s so difficult to retain highly skilled educators in NYC. It’s as if you are begging us to resign en masse.
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TRUMP HOTELS. Army Corps of Engineers should retrofit them as medical facilities.
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We do not have enough ICU beds, PPE gear , or test kits to combat this virus if we doubling COvid cases in a day. CT is at 24 cases currently. Some can stay home and recover, but some cannot. As a nurse that stays current with local updates, and the NY Times, I have believed for weeks that we need to follow those that have gone before us. No reinvention of the wheel. We still need to see regular med/surg patients at the hospital. These patients include immunocompromised children and adults, oncology/chemo clientele, and the fragile elderly. These ones cannot be exposed, or in the same facility as COvid-19 patients. It is too risky for cross-contamination.
Yes, we need extra beds and extra facilities to handle the Covid patients as Andrew Cuomo has suggested. Please understand why China did exactly this. They determined who had Covid-19 and who did not. They had test kits. They built facilities to handle the fallout. They wore HAZMAT suits. WE do not have that in place.
In Wuhan now, there are only a few scattered cases. They essentially got rid of the virus and are back to business in 2 1/2 months. Let us take some lessons from them.
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I see hundreds of opinions here, so let me add my 2 cents.
Insufficient number of hospital beds per capita or other equipment like ventilators, even if resolved is only one part of equation, lack of trained personnel is more important. My hospital has got X ventilators and Y respiratory therapists. Those two numbers are matched and if we get more ventilators, we will not get enough respiratory therapists to manage them, unless we extend their shifts. At this stage the only solution is to drastically expand testing, isolate positive individuals(at home) and institute other measures like closing schools, restaurants, some stores, protect healthcare workers, because if they sick, they will not be able to take care of others. This solution seem to work in South Korea, Italy woke up to late but US is still asleep.
13
As the NY Times pointed out yesterday, a Trust for Health America ranking of state public health preparedness put New York at the bottom. Maybe Mr. Cuomo should look inward at his failings to protect New Yorkers. In any case, it is interesting to see states who challenge Trump at every turn now look to him to bail them out. Fortunately Trump is bigger than many of the partisans begging at his doorstep, and he has mobilized the government and the commercial sector. Obama holdovers at the CDC may have let us all down, but Trump is cutting through the red tape from the Obama Administration exactly as you have asked. While you flail about, the Trump team soldiers on. In the meantime, your insincerity and inadequacies as governor are on full display in this letter.
5
Way to keep it unnecessarily political, TL.
Trump's response has been too little too late since day one. He was calling it a hoax 10 days ago. He had to be goaded to do more, because he think it's makes him look bad. He's not the right man for any job, but I guess we're stuck with him.
3
@TL
I guess that you are serious.
Where to start? It has still been less than a week gone by that Trump was in denial about the seriousness of the pandemic. Only two days ago at a press conference he was shaking as many hands as possible, though I saw at least one CEO refuse to shake.
The facts are for all to see. Our country is less prepared as a consequence of Trump's cluelessness. The previous administration saw this coming and worked to get ready. Obama literally stated that pandemic was his number 1 concern.
Finally Trump is showing signs that he will listen to scientists. The government as a whole once again a 'sleeping giant', but this attack is far more serious than Pearl Harbor.
Germany is a federal state as well. They show the same level of lack of coordination and resolve as in the States. However, Germany already has instructed their armed forces to recall reserve members with a medical background and the German armed forces are helping in sourcing materials and supplies.
China did the right thing when they built a field hospital in record time from scratch. The same should happen in the most affected states ASAP. The problem then: where to get the staff to operate these facilities? The US military also won't solve that problem.
One thing is clear though. Crisis such as this needs to fully be managed at a federal level, not a state level. That however requires good leadership at the federal level. Unfortunately, the US is governed by an incompetent conman posing as POTUS who is mostly concerned about his re-election rather than handling this crisis.
3
@Tobias W. Good points! Lack of leadership is visible on both Federal and many local levels. Only solution is to expand testing and expand scope of social distancing to mitigate spread. We should also make those responsible for our failing response, accountable when this is over.
4
Jackson,
Anything to change the subject from Donald Trump and his sycophants’ willful negligence in responding to a public health crisis, right?
4
@Jackson We could have accepted the WHO test kits weeks ago but American pride > human lives.
1
In a National Emergency, the Federal Government is the only entity which can coordinate the response of all the State and a Local governments. If the President is a “limited party” believer, or would rather use the powers of the government to benefit himself or his own business, then he would be loath to take charge of a national effort. If POTUS were afraid of failure, or results negatively impacting a future election, he’d not move to take charge for the sake of the common good of all Americans, indeed for our neighbors in Canada and Mexico. Let’s hope for all our sakes, the good of the many becomes more important than the benefit of the few.
I implore you who are commenting from outside medicine to listen to medical voices. Look to Italy. The Italian hospitals faced a trickle and then an explosion of people needing respiratory support. NYC DOES NOT have the capacity now to provide respitory support to all the people we will have to care for. Italian physician experts have told the world to build the beds now. If we need the army to build beds then that’s what we need to do. We have to pull together and mobilize resources before it’s too late. It may already be too late.
11
What did the state politicians and medical establishment do with the billions they were given for the swine flu and Ebola? Can we have an accounting before we throw billions mores into a bottomless pit?
There are an enormous number of university bed readily available now. There is also a lot of associated infrastructure associated with these beds - food prep, security, energy, communications, and staff.
3
We should postpone the elections indefinitely and thank God we have a strong President to lead us through this Crisis. Democrats are too week to lead, they will never win anyway.
4
I could not imagine a more dangerous or frightening common. It is a cynical excuse to prop up a president who most likely will not be re-elected. Our democracy survived the Civil War and will survive the Coronavirus, despite attempts by this commentator to the contrary.
6
The sooner we get Trump out the better.
5
I wonder if this crisis will cause Cuomo to grow up and consider co-ordinating with DeBlasio.
We need cooperation and I’m not sure that Cuomo is up to the task.
5
Not fair to blame Cuomo for lack of coordination with DiBlasio. DiBlasio does whatever he wants-he is very divisive and arrogant.
1
@Objectively Subjective
They are cooperating and coordinating federal, state and local resources.
Gov. Cuomo is doing a great job. Mayor deBlasio is trying but this crisis is testing his abilities.
1
You need money and NY is functionally bankrupt. They expect Uncle Trump to pay now. Can any adult imagining Cuomo or DeBlasio successfully running a lemonade stand together?
Doesn't New York State have a National Guard for emergencies. Shouldn't New York's governor call out the state Guard before asking the President for help. And if the military is required shouldn't the governor lock down the state.
8
@Jim
Don't you have a federal government? And isn't that where the buck stops when you have a national emergency like this one? The virus doesn't care which state you live in.
2
Not sure if you've been paying attention for the past 75 years, but where ever the US military have gone, they have stayed (unless they get kicked out by the natives). And, as the POTUS is the de facto leader of the US military, I would ask you to reassess your ability to parse facts that are right in front of your face. Our current president is a narcissistic man-baby with authoritarian tendencies, bordering on fascism. And allowing the military to move through a democracy with governmental authority has worked out so well in the past. Right?
3
Time is indeed short. Once testing becomes routine thousands will learn they are infected and also contagious. Fortunately the large majority will simple suffer a few weeks inconvenience with minor symptoms. But where? Some can stay home without too much risk to loved ones, roommates, neighbors and friends but many, perhaps the majority in some urban areas, can’t. Meanwhile, the hospitality industry is experiencing a major crisis with tens of thousands of empty rooms. A government program to offer these companies $100 per room per night would provide immediate and appropriate housing for the thousands of contagious people who test positive. These would not be our most vulnerable citizens but people anxious not to infect others. Within a few weeks they will be free of the virus and can move back into society. With encouragement some of them can continue to work in the hotels providing service to incoming “guests” and freeing up the personnel initially required who will need to wear full protective gear. Hotels need to set aside entire floors with separate stairs and elevator service. Take out food can be provided safely by local restaurants who desperately need the business. Atlantic City alone could house 10,000, all delivered by luxury bus. When I go over to the testing facility I’ll want to bring along my roller bag with personal items so that if I test positive I can hop on the bus to a hotel and consign myself to in-room tv, take-out food, and lousy WIFI.
2
It is important that we all recognize what is the number one national priority for Trump and the Trump administration: ensuring Trump gets another term.
Unfortunately for Trump (and us), the virus can’t be lied or bullied away. It doesn’t care about tweets, or outrageous claims. It won’t go away if the stock market rises.
Competent leadership relying on science and expert advice, backed by a functional government would be a good start. Too bad Trump and the GOP have spent the last four years demolishing all of that. It’s been a really good time to assault Obamacare and slash the social safety net too.
This is what we get for repeatedly turning government over to people who don’t believe in government - just deregulation and tax cuts for the rich. What we really need is a vaccine to immunize America against Trumpism and the GOP.
5
If you don’t have everything you need visit a truck stop. The stores are well stocked.
1
According to the Pew Research Center, one out of four Americans self identify as evangelical. Science denial comprises a core characteristic of this population. Millions of Americans don't trust doctors, won't take their kids to the doctor, or have them vaccinated. Millions of Americans don't believe what they're hearing from the scientists about this pandemic. Govermor Cuomo is showing intrepid, decisive leadership. But it's time for he and other leaders across the country to reach out to this giant segment of citizens who could potentially torpedo our public health response through nonparticipation, born of religious skepticism. What does our administration say to them? What guidance does Trump offer to his science-denying evangelical "base." I'd like to see The Times and other leading news organizations begin to report on this aspect of our pandemic response. If you already are doing it, sorry to have chimed in.
3
Thank you Governor Cuomo. The nation is well served by your leadership.
5
With this president the military is used to fight battles far away and to build walls. To use it for something that might help ordinary people is beyond him.
2
I fear for the future of this country.Biden is going senile Sanders is an idea man but old and not an administrator.I love Trump's idea of getting troops out of Afghanistan,secure borders ,tax laws to help business grow ,,to correct trade imbalance ,strong military prison reform but he is not the man for the job.If Trump had a Chief of Staff to manage like General Kelly we might be ok but as it is he is not up to the job.
With that introduction I wish Cuomo would be the next president.We need someone like him to help the country in times of crises.
4
I think it’s a horrible headline and the Times does a great disservice to have chosen it. The last thing we want is for Trump to be able to say that a Democratic governor told him it was OK to use the military within our borders. I’m sure he’d love to declare martial law. What Cuomo proposes is much more limited than simply using the military. We don’t need alarmist headlines right now. We are alarmed enough.
10
Mobilize military planners to provide hospitals with all the supplies they need. Then imprison Trump and his administration of clowns.
3
White male rich privileged 101!!!
This is what happens when you have an incompetent individual as president simply because he’s white and male and rich.
The man is unfit to be president!!!
Imagine if Obama was President. He would have had a great plan in this place as soon as China started with the problem!
He wouldn’t have disbanded the pandemics office to start with etc etc.
this crisis can be boiled down to white male wealth privilege!!
A stupid incompetent person is president and shouldn’t be!
He’s in office just cause of his racist views, his gender and his wealth! He’s not in office because he’s smart or competent!!
This is what happens when the majority of white people think it’s more important to make the lives of people who don’t look like them miserable, than to govern the country well!!
2
Governor, despite your long and creditable record through some tough times and tough calls – coming up short here
Even Fauci not getting the ball completely into the goal
1st, one of the few quantitative prognostications on which most agree is that more than half of any country’s citizens will likely be exposed – so what’s the point of mass after-the-fact quarantines
Closing down bars, while running up unlimited tabs in sickbays
2nd, our clinicians and politicians need to level with the rest of us regarding the difference in mortality rates by:
> Age – looks to be ~50-100X greater for those over 80, vs those under 50
> Health – for those over 80, 99% had an underlying health condition
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lamvo/coronavirus-death-rates-age-charts-us-china
Borne out in our state of 20 million, where ~700 die daily
3 deaths in the past week – 65, 76, and 82 years old
All with chronic ailments
3rd, payment for our health-care industry has become perversely predatory
Especially for the working middle class, and those of them who – for whatever reason – leave work before 65
Even then, it costs a couple ~$5000 more to rid themselves of copayments, deductibles, systemic claim denials, and network gaming
Make a start and a stand by broadly deregulating the clinical diagnostics industry in NYS
(likely add >50,000 high-tech NY jobs within 10 yrs)
Federal regulators ascribing their bumbling and ineptitude to “safety” have become a sad/recurring joke
3
We knew trump would cause world war 3. We have on our hands an uncontained virus that spreads exponentially. The elderly are most vulnerable. Trump’s craziness and ignorance have left us defenseless. Also mad, anti-science gop politics. While the virus was out of control in china, trump was in india, china’s neighbor, boasting about america’s greatest military on the planet that he spent a trillion on. Aircraft, ships, tanks, missiles. What is the use? The space force and defense shields do not help at all against covid 19. We are as defenseless as the 10 billion others on the planet with no hospitals and medicines. We cant find toilet paper on store shelves. There are no hospital beds even if we can get tested. We cant even get tested in america when every vietnamese can. Vietnam is a superpower.
1
Governor Cuomo,
Why aren't you president? Clear, focused, all-encompassing plan that just reading it helped to lower my blood pressure. Let's home the powers that be read this as well.
2
My guess is that the National Guards and army have been working on plans and possible implementation for some time already, probably weeks. (All have disaster plans as part of their roles)
It is ridiculous to think that nothing happens until the President or the NYT announces plans.
Each State and locality will have to take decisions best for them. The Federal government cannot act on locally specific needs.
2
"without further F.D.A. approvals..."
"Don't let bureaucracy..."
Sounds like the FDA has been the road block...with rules the Obama Admin put in place.
Did Fredo senior turn into a Republican?
3
@Larry
Are you seriously blaming Obama for this? Trump has been in power for three years. He constantly brags about how much he has accomplished. We constantly hear about how he is the best, the brightest, President ever. Why hasn't he done anything about this?
The buck stops on the President's desk. That is what a leader is. -- someone who takes responsibility, not blaming everybody else like Trump does. That's the coward's way.
2
If the Chinese could build a hospital in Wuhan in ten days, the U.S. army corps of engineers should request their technique and put up as many as people like Dr. Faucci recommend and with great and urgent speed..
Remember how we mobilized after Pearl Harbor!! We are now under attack.
4
@Darchitect Surely we can build a quasi hospital or adapt some building as one quickly, but who is going to staff those places?
Cuomo is obviously floating his boat for a 2024 run. He has the power to take drastic action, especially by overriding the incompetent boob who is the current mayor of NYC, but he has not, strictly for political reasons. He would rather give long-winded speeches that are long on rhetoric but short on substance.
2
Why haven't they?
We should let the Military take control over the country until this crysis is over. They are strong and they are prepared to fight. Civilians are divided and ignorant, but our generals can guide us!
@Joseph Confucius says:"Do not use cannon to kill a mosquito"
I would apply it to a virus too.
1
Trump is officially irrelevant at this stage of our lives. There will now be a reckoning
5
I'm surprised he didn't find a way to work in an unnecessary swipe at De Blasio in this article.
3
What's next? Tanks in the streets? Curfews? Martial Law?
5
All the suggestions make sense, especially using the Army Corp of Engineers to build, at least, field hospitals.
1
Cuomo is right. Hopefully Kushner has read this and can convince the president.
DeBlasio needs to shut down shut the city down other than essential services (why and how, are bars and clubs open??); grocery stores, food banks, shelters, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, emergency agency offices, key government offices, free child care for essential workers's children, etc, only for the next 2-4 weeks. Food and basic supplies must be made free for those who cannot afford it.
We all need to brace for the coming storm, hunker down and take care of each other, including the weakest among us.
4
The most effective and urgently needed thing you can do right now, Mr. Governor, is to order the closing of public places before New York becomes like Wuhan or Milan. The businesses that will be hurt by closures will be hurt a lot more if things reach the scale of disaster in those cities.
11
This crisis illustrates how over regulation of diagnostics results in low quality healthcare for anyone with an uncommon illness. Meeting FDA regulations require such high expenditures that diagnostic companies will typically develop tests only for common ailments. Uncommon ailments just don’t pay and have the same high hurdle rates for development. Consequently, if you need to be tested for something uncommon, chances are the test will have been developed by a local lab tech with little background in diagnostic development rather than a team of scientists at a diagnostic company. This is why the Coronavirus tests are being reported as unreliable.
2
Dear New York, I was born in Upstate New York and my prayers are with you. I thank ever government worker who is refusing to be political but acting in the interest the human race and doing their best for those who are at the highest risk regardless because we all have the right to live out our days in comfort, with care, and safely. My prayers for everyone to be reasonable, responsible, rationale and, kind. Kindness doesn’t require anything but a conscious - think of others. Let’s work together and send this virus and its cousins into extinction.
2
Thank you, Governor.
It is imperative that each person, each business, each community, and each state take this seriously--and that our federal government provide Americans with the means to combat the spread of the virus and help those already infected.
We should be beyond politics when people are dying around the world. It is already here. This is terrifying.
8
This public letter to the POTUS, no matter who he is, is arrogance of a new measure. It is a self fulfilling exercise in rejection and avoidance. It virtually guarantees the POTUS must ignore it. It promotes public hysteria and wrong behaviors. This letter by Cuomo smacks of retaliation for curtailment of Trusted Traveler, something Cuomo invited with his errant sanctuary policy. This is not leadership by Cuomo, it is divisive politics. If Cuomo had a worthwhile suggestion to make to POTUS he could have picked up the phone and spoke to him directly.
4
@Donald Smith
You like tweets better. eh? They're more responsible and direct, is that it?
3
@GFE If Cuomo had something worthwhile to recommend there are accepted secure and private channels. This is pure vindictive politics on Cuomo's part. Nationwide recommendations from a governor who cannot fix New York City's subways after years of mismanagement cannot be taken seriously.
5
Even my Redder-than-Red house rep sent out an email today complmenting Gov. Cuomo after Cuomo's thorough, clear, and focused breifing today. This is what public service looks like.
15
All good asks from Gov. Cuomo. Add that all NYC schools should close. Period. Shelter-in-Place for a week to start, with exceptions for essential workers. That gives us a little time to make drastic plans that can be adjusted as we move forward this year.
People should treat this as if it’s an environmental hazard to venture out rather than just prepping for a snowstorm.
7
Gov Cuomo, please close schools, bars and restaurants in the state. De Blasio is not keeping NYC safe, where we have the highest concentrated number of people. Please step in and help us.
11
Public pressure maybe needed to push Trump and his Trumpist Senate into action. FOX Cable continues to disseminate misinformation and must be stopped. What we have in front of our eyes is an incompetent Administration full of corrupt and inept cabinet members and “senior advisers”. What passes for Treasury Secretary” Mnuchin is asking for additional special powers. They have plenty of latitude already to take action and haven’t. Congress should not grant extraordinary powers to people who’ll misuse it for personal gain, not the good of the country. We’ve seen that movie before.
5
If you so caring and smart then why don't you COMPLETELY shut down NYC? NYC will be the hardest hit and Trump has nothing to do with that.
4
Easy to say we should relax regulatory oversight and fast track ANY development. However, under regulating any vaccine or cure regimens needs to be done cautiously and judicously!
The danger here being that SAR-CoV-2 is considered to be some form of mutation already. Anything developed to combat it, if NOT done correctly, could very well produce a new mutation or a regimen which may be too weak or fatal for large segments of population. This could windup putting us back to square one and/or create a more lethal, virulent strain!!
As for troops, who will provide centralized command? This issuance of martial law across such a vadied and expansive area as the entire country sounds like a high risk for loss of Freedom and inflexable towards addressing areas which may need differing applications of containment!
1
He's not talking about releasing an under-regulated vaccine, he's talking about testing.
2
We. Are. in. Big. Trouble.
Stay home.
7
And some, including in this paper, had the guts and arrogance to criticize Chinese measures a few weeks ago....
6
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed a catastrophic failure of leadership in this country. Each headline is so incredibly shocking one does not know where to look. If American citizens do not understand why this President is unfit to govern, they surely will after this. Voting him out of office is not only imperative for the nation, it may very well literally save lives. Wait and see what happens and then vote with the full knowledge that we need a leader who can lead and inspire in a time of crisis, not babble and fail to take any responsibility for the mess that is now unfolding.
11
@Cat
Trump supporters won't understand. They will blame Obama. Some of them are right here in the comments section. I just responded to one of them who did just that.
Governor Cuomo has stated clearly what must be done. Certainly President Trump has received his message. We shall see what happens next. Let's all pray. You know; There are no atheists in fox holes. For sure that applies now.
Still, I see nowhere a call for free treatment. That is a big hole from all perspectives. Untreated people who have the virus pose a great danger to everyone. Free testing, but not free treatment will not be at all helpful with our vast uninsured population. They know this, and many if not most will most likely avoid testing.
Those who are insured will be covered, and even then, insurance companies will need help to survive. Think how unjust it will be when insurance companies are propped up while uninsured people are left without treatment. The great might of our federal government that we have been hearing so much about must serve every single individual who is present in our land.
1
This atheist is glad the gratuitous "day of prayer" is almost over so that these people can get off their knees and back to work.
2
Gee, Joe, I quite see the seriousness of the situation, yet I'm still an atheist.
4
@Susan
You are not yet begging for your life or that of a loved one. Don't be too proud if God forbid, such a moment arrives.
1
I am a retired healthcare worker. Some of the very best people I worked with were trained in the military. If we do utilize the military we will be in very good hands.
8
I hope the federal government finds someone who the president likes and can read this to our President.
10
This burgeoning disaster ,eerily, has all of the earmarks of the excellent, if macabre, HBO series CHERNOBYL! The bumbling political hacks and inept internal apparatus led to unspeakable chaos and suffering, nearly wiping out all of Eastern Europe before it subsided....I’m not very optimistic about the future for us. We are 77/78 with chronic issues.
4
Governor Cuomo
New York state has more confirmed cases than any other. Fourteen other states have closed all of their public schools. STOP PLEADING FOR FEDERAL HELP AND CLOSE ALL SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK STATE!!!!
13
Dear Governor Cuomo,
Since you publicized your recommendations in this Op-Ed, Trump's ego will never implement your proposals. Not because they are not sound but because he can not spin that they are his own.
3
Probably should be closing schools in New York first? Might not need as many new hospital beds if you shut down the schools now but more important to point the finger at Mr. Trump than do what is needed in your own State?
4
Out of an abundance of caution, I agree we should have the military assist where necessary. However, I worry about the possible misuse of this action by those in power.
It's obvious, at this point, that measures were slow in being implemented and weren't clearly thought out by those in charge. We may pay an unbelievable price for their negligence.
If allowing the military to assist in the various ways outlined in this article would help with infection avoidance, I urge our government officials to act accordingly.
When this virus reaches its zenith, we will need to tamp down the panic and assist as many people as we can. There's no excuse to do less.
4
We need free tests for anyone who wants it.
NOW!
5
The first place every flu-catcher should visit is his local congressman’s office.
Otherwise they wont understand and address the problem properly.
4
Constitutional violation
2
Preparation. It is imperative. In the past twelve hours I have heard from two friends getting sick. With no way of being tested. I hear of people going to parties with lots of people. It's simply idiotic.
The government should be texting warnings to everyone.
3
Andrew Cuomo for President 2024!
4
Wouldn’t wish that on the entire country...its bad enough what he’s done here in NY!
2
I wouldn't trust Trump to babysit my pets or be in charge of my pocket change, look at his mishandling of this healthcare crisis.
And you want to put him in charge of armed forces at his disposal on domestic soil?!
Are you insane?! Once he got them, he wouldn't ever let them go....
.
8
Anybody know which golf course Trump is at today?
17
@tomkatt
I'm pretty sure he's cheating and inflating his golf score over at Trump Whites R Us National today.
16
He's right and it's amazing we have to ask or beg this maniac to do it right.
Meanwhile, on Channel 4 (UK), a leading expert who knows the med people on the task force guarantees that not only are they not for these moronic travel bans, but they are also being told to say they're not being muzzled when obviously they are, at least partially. (That last bit may not be in this video but from another source. You don't need a source: you think Fauci wants gigantic lines at airports, with people packed solid like sardines, as these idiots fever-test for a virus that spreads before symptoms or with symptoms not fever-related, as we've known for weeks? It's unconscionable, but what's Fauci, et al, supposed to do, quit? And leave it up to Jared and his Facebook groups?)
The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwQR7vN8sNU. Yeah, MAGAs, I'm sure he's part of the global conspiracy to pretend this is serious in order to hurt your Dear Leader. Keep shaking hands. Keep minimizing. And, no, it ain't just the MAGAs: if you're not religiously following hand hygiene and hot-zone-level social distancing, if at all possible, then you're in the same boat. Or rather, you're also drilling your own little hole in the same boat we're all in.
Gee, thanks.
7
madness
3
Don’t whip up panic! Enough!
6
Way to politicize yourself and a disease pandemic! Good job Governor Cuomo, looks like politics as usual!
5
Someone needs to lead. Not seeing any effective leadership from trump & minions
1
Now reports are out that Jared Kushner’s brother, Josh, who owns the company “Oscar Health” launched the first testing center locator for COVID-19 in the U.S. just 2 days ago, featuring more than 100 centers. This leaves one to believe that there was a reason for denying the WHO test kits 6 weeks ago so that profits could be made with a person related to the Trump.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oscar-launches-first-testing-center-locator-for-covid-19-301023288.html
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/08/14/alphabet-invests-375-million-in-josh-kushner-founded-oscar-health.html
16
@Bob
I hope your suspicions are wrong, but if Oscar can facilitate the testing, let’s go. We need multiple ways to test here in NYC, and if they can send nurses to test patients at home, that would keep them out of hospitals.
So, someone read the fool the letter, put his name in every sentence, tell him Cuomo is looking far wiser and stronger than he is, that New Yorkers (& even Vermonters) think our governors are winning while he is losing. Then say it again, you are losing, Cuomo is winning unless you start to do more, listen to Cuomo, to Fauci. Fire Redfield. Start winning. You can look like a big fat hero!, with lots of winning!, if you do these things and a great deal more.
4
I am quoting and truncating another reader’s comment.
trump- step aside
I will also add two (short) words:
shut up
1
Cuomo, CLOSE THE SCHOOLS!
9
Yup considering how the US and other western govts have squandered their time bought by the Chinese.
Utilising ALL available resources is best to stamping out this threat so life, and the economy can recover asap.
1
I'm all in for a better, faster Federal response...but asking Trump to call out the military on domestic ground.
Whoa! Hold your horses Andrew! Are you kidding?
Why don't we let the Feds get their ponies in a line and pulling the carts better and more efficiently, before we start calling on the military to do what will amount to nothing but more chaos.
Lets sift thru the chaos we have - before we add to it. Its woefully too soon to ask a by nature chaos generating, knee-jerk reactionary White House and POTUS to call out the military!
I see nothing but chaos should this WH act as Cuomo insists. This WH has exhibited nothing but an ability - if it can be called an ability - to create confusion and chaos when they do act.
In no way does it make sense to ask this WH, this POTUS, to truly over-reach, when they have yet to adequately show they can properly reach and then handle for that which is wholly within their reach.
I think Gov. Cuomo is seeking place on I warned you list, instead of truly thinking thru the who he is making his pleas.
Which seems to a consistent issue among too many editorials. Beseeching this President and his WH to grow-up and rise to the moment and be the true adults in the room.
Calling out the military now is too much, too soon for a WH that has shown zero crisis management skills.
2
The Gov must be getting advice from Fredo.
5
Too reasonable....too thoughtful...too forward-thinking....too logical...too adultlike, Governor Cuomo.
Can't we just stick with the award-winning cluelessness, incompetence, lack of planning and public handshaking and shared microphones of our Dear Leader ?
The coronavirus is bad.
The Trumpvirus is worse.
8
Trump still doesn’t get it. This thing is about to mushroom in the US.
Trump has failed dismally to take the action necessary and it will cost thousands of lives.
Electing a mendacious, ignorant, selfish, narcissistic dolt has consequences, America.
14
This is a really good public service that is from Australia.
Both funny and Informative:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=wuAFVAzor6E&feature=emb_title
We need to flatten the curve folks. Stay inside. Stay calm. Save lives.
1
What? That's crazy!
The military needs to build the Wall on our southern border.
Only the Wall can save from the scourge that is the Mexican and his cousin the Central American!
The threat of any virus pails in comparison to these people who the president has called "animals."
3
Sure troops w/ M16s on the street, corralling citizens for no good reason. Are you mad? A total overreaction.
8
@luis martinez the army corps of "engineers" builds things.
NO! Giving a wannabee fascist dictator emergency powers and mobilizing the military to turn the country into a police state is the worst possible decision.
States, step up, you need to protect us from Coronavirus and the wannabee dictator in the White House at the same time.
7
We’re this far into this and there is no plan to increase supply of hospital beds? To get something like this organized and mobilized it takes Governor Cuomo urging the president to do something? Take the knowledge offered from South Korea now and get on this already! This is pathetic!
359
@A
Cuomo has control over his State, National Guard, disaster plans already in place, etc.
FEMA will also be stepping i with their expertise.
The Federal government cannot ship beds for him.
4
@A Where are the mush tents and field hospitals the military could be providing. What are we waiting for?
8
@A
We can definitely pick up more strategies from South Korea but their best strategy was aggressive testing, and we are way too far behind to use that now and catch up. Sadly. I wish we could hire them here to manage this for us since our federal government is so incompetent.
3
Cuomo is right.
A "crash" state/local effort with Federal funding and staffing support is needed to create alternative sites for medical screening and care.
Add to that a crash effort quickly to train the respiratory therapists who will be needed around the clock to manage the mechanical ventilators whose manufacture must also be scaled up quickly.
This demands a response at all levelss with the same urgency as Americans did for Pearl Harbor.
5
The headline in this article is very misleading. The actual recommendation is pretty vanilla and makes sense. More importantly though, this headline might give Trump the idea that he can send in the troops to take over blue states. Bad, bad, bad, NYTimes.
1
The states are cleary in charge. The federal government and lier in chief are AWOL. Like the residents of Puerto Rico after the hurricane mainlanders are sadly on their own.
2
@WGINLA The Puerto Rico hurricane disaster response is another example of stellar leadership.
1
How dare you write this letter demanding leadership from Trump when you have yet to shut down schools in the state of New York? You will have blood on your hands as our 1.1 million students and hundreds of thousands thousands of teachers and staff, many of whom are immunocompromised, continue to be told to go about business as usual. Shame on you!
6
110,000 public school students are homeless within any year - they depend on being fed in schools. Many of the healthcare works who we expect to show up to care for the sick depend on the schools for childcare. It’s not so simple a decision. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/nyregion/homeless-students-nyc-schools-record.amp.html
2
Is Trump listening or is he going to weaponize the virus against Democratic states?
2
Because that's what you want from a authoritarian leader, to mobilize the military to deal with something...come on man.
2
Andrew Mark Cuomo’s thought is intelligent and dangerous with this president. Very dangerous.
Yes. We need collective action... let the states form up and organise... asap.
Keep President Trump away from Marshall law... this president is looking for an excuse to suspend elections and carry on.. exactly as Nixon wanted to do and was stopped by the tapes.
Dictatorships are Trump’s model... the object of his envy... and I believe his craven lunacy encourages him to provoke the equivalent of Kent State and worse to justify a police state...
All to control the total chaos that his Democrat Hoax baloney was designed to do. Pretty soon he will direct the FED to buy stocks. Why not? Japan did it for decades. MOF... Mnuchin.
Gov. Cuomo, you have a police state leaning yourself.
Get over it and do the work, state by state... now. Get busy... and do not pass the buck to your colleague at 1600. Head back to Albany, all by yourself.. and get on the phone. .
Allow for modest differences, trial and error, ask for FEMA and the domestic use of armed forces under STATE CONTROL.
Do not flirt with federal control that violates the constitution... Sir.
3
People, stop hoarding toilet paper and soap/hand sanitizer. Please calm down and start considering the needs of your neighbors and other community members, instead of just yourself and your immediate family. Thank you.
4
FAKE NEWS! Nobody is sick, we are all just crisis actors from the Soros Talent Agency, juiced up on Febrilify (tm) to induce symptoms. We're well-coordinated with the deep state, of course, and we're raking in those sweet, sweet Soros Bucks for this attack on Orange Failure.
3
Right there....shining to any willfully blind GOP supporter who is glued to FIX News.
This NY governer is what a true leader should look like in a national health crisis.
The imposter fraudster TV personality and his clan in WH are as abysmal and impotent as we can get.
1
How long before Trump calls Cuomo a "snake?"
10 9 8 7....
1
Close your schools governor.
6
Hey Governor: Close the schools in NY and take care of your own backyard before your start grandstanding!
8
Well said sir.
1
It seems to me, considering the superior intellect New Yorkers and Bostonians continually tell the rest of America they have, Cuomo wouldn’t rely on the inferior actions and medical knowledge of the CDC and the federal government.
Why has Andrew Cuomo delayed using his States Rights to, long ago, act decisively to protect the citizens of New York? His superior knowledge and access to all of the Coronavirus solutions should have been in place months ago. His failure to act until now, using the magnificent hospitals and doctors of New York State is unconscionable.
New York State Borders should have been closed two months ago. Airport closed. Restaurants closed. Public gatherings prohibited. It doesn’t take President Trump to activate the National Guard.
3
There are close to 10,000 shopping malls in the USA that have shut their doors.
If the Chinese can construct a "hospital" in ten days, even if it isn't full of high tech equipment and operating suites, but adequate to treat Covid-19 patients, I would think that even in the USA these malls could be converted into similar facitlities.
Most everyone would benefit from this approach, evening "developers".
1
Start a new hashtag: # "'I don't take responsibility at all'
Who is going to hold him to account for this?
1
Joe Biden and Schumer did say that Trump was overreacting and the precautions Trump put in place were unnecessary. Schumer even promised to introduce a bill in the Senate to overturn Trump’s travel ban.
3
Every country has handled it on a national level and the USA has not. Our profoundly immoral Trump and the GOP are anti life they are in denial and hope many Americans and older people pass away from this Coronavirus. They can’t even pass an affordable health care plane with a GOP President and senate. George Bush Sr the father treated the Katrina victims in Houston with no compassion and plenty of ridicule. I am concerned of what will be coming if lots of GOP NRA members get this virus. Will they be shooting up there families and communities. I support the Army helping but give them all bullet proof vests for their safety and longevity.
1
See Charlie Warzel’s op-ed and close the bars!
3
I think the State of New York should immediately license testing independent of the Federal Government.
Let the Fed's take us to court.
South Korea tests 10,000 people a day using German licensed test kits that they manufacture.
Too much time has been lost to dereliction of duty to the American people.
I don't care a rats ankle for the spectacle of politics. This is a national emergency being met by a failure of leadership at the Federal level.
Gov. Cuomo, you have the budget you have the power you can do this - take charge.
South Korea works with Kogene biotech, but there are others.
We must act now.
https://www.genomeweb.com/pcr/kogene-biotech-novel-coronavirus-test-gets-regulatory-approvals-korea#.Xm4hOXIpByx
1
I just got an update they are saying to lock down yourself for another EIGHT weeks
DOD MEPS is still processing THOUSANDS of recruits daily across usa
Screening is minimal
MEPS posts understaffed,no PPE,crowded conditions
Recruits then FLOWN ACROSS USA for basic training
Public health risk unaccetable-military academy cadets already sent home,DOD employees/families barred from travel
SECDEF or POTUS must HALT MEPS NOW
What about the Seabees? They deploy—even into combat—to build and repair. (Think of the island airstrips that were built, bombed, and rebuilt all around the PTO during World War II.)
If we need existing buildings converted quickly into Covid-19 hospitals, these famously can-do crews could help us get the job done.
2
So hypocritical to write this while NYC public schools are still open. Are teachers worth nothing to you?
5
Two words: Governor’s Island.
1
The virus is a jumped up cold virus. It will be gone by mid-May. All that will be left to deal with will be the national and world wide depression brought on by cowardly, pandering, cheap politicians and a corrupt, incompetent and uncaring corporate media. What does the American left think will happen to the poor, especially the poor in the third world that they allege to care about then?
Trump will be reelected in a landslide because Democrats could not manage to choose a viable candidate leaving the people to choose between an ancient Marxist who has never had a real job or and ancient establishment hack obviously slipping into dementia and who, like his opponent has never had a real job and who dodged the draft. Both candidates continue to push open borders in the face of the virus
By the way what did Cuomo and the other governors do with the billions in state and federal funding since the Swine flu and Ebola outbreaks? It is ironic that Democrats want the NG now but not when they were deployed to our national borders. The NY guard is under Cuomo but he wants Uncle Trump to pay for it because NY is functionally bankrupt.
Those whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.
6
Thanks, Chemical Ali. Good to hear from you.
3
@William Boyer from Kansas
This virus is no “jumped-up cold virus.” No time for partisan sniping either.
Worth remembering that Kansas was ground zero in this country for the Flu pandemic in 1918-1919. We need to do much better this time.
3
I see. No adult arguments or facts.
Expect nothing from the White House. You have had ample time to observe, for years now, the utter incompetence of the man sitting in there. Expecting anything in the way of positive leadership during this crisis is a fool's folly.
3
Thank you Governor Cuomo!
Weeks late and billions of dollars short on this, Trump. You will be the death of so many of us.
1
Bravo, Governor. In times like this, I realize the importance of living in a Blue State. Where Science and Reason reign.
Covid -19 is NOT the cause of the Panic and upcoming Depression. The OTHER Virus, BOVID-45, absolutely is to blame. He squandered the advance warning from China, all to
“ keep the numbers down “. For re-Election.
And yes, Bovid refers to cattle. As in a Bull in a Medical Laboratory.
Thanks, GOP. NOVEMBER.
2
BOVID-45 and the coronApocalypse 🙈
1
Thank you Governor Cuomo!
1
Maybe there is some hope...
Even FOX Entertainment has appeared to have woken up from denial....they are now showing the same graphs, figures, crowds in the airports of people stuffed together because of Trump's out-the-bunghole idea to get people back here AFTER the horse has left the barn...too little, too late.
I can guarantee people sending those crowd pix from airports are not all Democrats...
When FOX is now showing medical and pandemic advice programming, and has taken off the air that moron who, as late as last Monday, was braying that it's a hoax....Trump is toast.
They went too far with advertisers AND viewers. NOT a hoax any longer apparently.
I will never understand WHY "the right" keeps insisting it's "Fake News" about anything NOT shown on FOX.
Most of what is reported on any subject today is backed up by video, audio and written evidence. We ALL saw the stumbling, hyperventilated speech by Trump the other night, cuffs nailed to the desk to prevent flailing. It was broadcast on every network.
FOX broadcast the corrections to his speech-not "FAKE".
It can't be Fake News on one channel and the real thing on another when they BOTH use the same feeds.
Trump braying "Democrat Hoax to get him out of office", or that he "is not responsible" when there are many many videos of him minimizing the situation is not made up.
Trump is a clown..
Jobs report for March, and then April, will finally assure his downfall.
Trump is DONE.
1
I wouldn't trust Trump to walk my dog. I definitely don't trust him to safely and effectively deploy the military to aid in the pandemic. His ignorance and incompetence combined with his utter lack of compassion and basic human emotion prove he is unfit to lead.
1
Weel articulated, Governor Cuomo.
Now if you can get Sean Hannity to rant this to Trump in a righteously indignant tone (without crediting the failing NYT's) he might listen.
Won't do anything. But might listen if Sean Hannity screeches it.
4
Cuomo shouldn't waste time penning a this urgent letter to the President on The New York Times - For faster response from the Trump administration, he should "Tweet", call in to Rush Limbaugh Radio Show or do a informercial "Tic Tok".
99
@José Franco Waste of time. Really, Rush Limbaugh is going to listen to Cuomo?
5
@José Franco I was blissfully UNAWARE we had less than 1 million beds available in an emergency. Journalistically he did the right thing in providing much needed context around proportionality. Now we get it.
1
You all do know that Gov Cuomo has the authority to fully mobilize the NY national guard? If he feels the military is needed, exhaust state resources through the full mobilization of the NY national guard, let the CDC make an assessment on their ability to manage the situation, and then put forth a request to the President for additional forces. Let’s stop with the politics, dial back the emotions, and actually try to get a handle on this fluid situation.
3
A thoughtful, smart and concise immediate plan for beginning to tackle this problem in a comprehensive manner. Will anyone in Washington be listening or following up on what the Governor has suggested.....probably not unfortunately! Controlling the message seems to be more important.
1
Please, Gov Cuomo. CLOSE ALL SCHOOLS in NYS!
Please close all bars, restaurants , clubs, delis, gyms, the YMCA, retailers and limit grocery shopping. We can all do this and survive this mess. Most people are willing to take a temporary hit now instead of a slow bleed out. I'm doing my part by avoiding most places / playgrounds and playdates. I am pulling my son from school starting tomorrow (as most of the people I know are too)
Today was my last day the Gym until this blows over.
122
@BK Christie
When Walt Disney World closes, you know we are in Big Trouble.
Of course, the crowd moved down the street to Margaritaville’s waterparks which are jammed.
14
@BK Christie My area of CT has had schools closed since Wednesday ! Westport even has the beach & playground closed. We are doing self quarantine to stop community spread. My heart aches for NYC. I lived in Manhattan 27 years before moving out.
10
@BK Christie: "Limiting grocery shopping" would just make people freak out and hoard goods more than they are already. People do have to eat.
12
I feel like Cuomo’s mistake here was in assuming Trump can read.
7
@M
That's the way to restore civility and cooperation in a crisis.
3
This is fear mongering at its best. 2.8mm people die in America every year; according to the statistical model developed by Nicholas Kristof and Stuart A. Thompson (and published in an Opinion piece by the NYTimes) 1mm will die if we do nothing and 360,000 will die if we immediately implement a China-style lock-down. Taking these numbers at face value (which is a stretch since China - and it's 1 billion people - haven't even come close to that death toll), the advice of our leaders and the press is to destroy the economic future of millions upon millions young, healthy Americans. This is insane.
If millennials and boomers don't understand each other now, wait until 90% of the millennials become unemployed so that boomer could make it until his 86th birthday.
Oppose the lockdown!
2
Cuomo stumping for the Democratic presidential nomination. He knows the Dems have no hope with either Biden or Sanders so he figures he can use this virus for political gain.
Shameful.
H1N1 killed more than 18,000 people in the United States alone.
The Media did not go on a hysteria campaign.
But now hysteria is the "IN" thing to do.
One single new case of Coronavirus becomes its own separate headline.
Why is that? Any guesses? Let's hear some guesses.
4
@Elizabeth Carlisle
Amen! They think they are fooling people.
2
Hello all you doubters. If this is all an unnecessary political panic, how to you explain Iran, Italy, China, Spain etc? Are they all panicking to help us get rid of Trump. Hmmm.. well, now that I think about it...
3
Ooooh. Somebody was watching Jerry Falwell Jr on Fox & Friends yesterday.
America's free market - where the need for hospital beds and Air BNB under utilized/ available beds (capacity) creates a win - win situation for The Trump administration. Operators are standing by, free respirators for the first 1,000 callers.
1
The last thing that America and Americans need or want is to have or see is our ignorant, immature,immoral.Incompetent,inexperienced, intemperate and insecure President of the United States calling upon the military to do anything during the COVID- 19 aka coronavirus crisis.
Donald Trump has no credible history for telling the truth nor curiosity to fill his ignorance with facts.
Donald Trump has no credible history for caring about anything but his own economic, political and sexual health and well- being.
Let the bacchanal soiree held last weekend at Mar-a-Lago and the bumbling stumbling desecration of the Oval Office and the Resolute Desk this past Wednesday night mark the supermassive black hole end of Trump as an effective calming, conforting and credible President of the United States.
The less that we hear and see from this White House from Donald Trump to Jared Kushner to Stephen Miller to Kellyanne Conway to Hope Hicks to Mike Pence the better. The same thing applies to the political appointees at the top of the Trump cabinet. Particularly anyone with an acting before their name
Let career professionals at CDC and NIH lead and speak us through this pandemic. Let's follow and listen to WHO
Let career professionals at DHS and HHS do likewise.
Let's put the human race first.
' No man is an island entire of himself. Each man's death diminishes me. And therefore I ne'er tend to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.'
2
Close the NYC Public Schools! Institute the summer school approach recommended by NYC Council member Mark Treyger.
1
Soy you are not closing NYC schools because you are waiting for some “uniform federal standard?“
2
Get all 50 governors to call for this.....it is one thing they might all agree on.....
1
Luckily there’s an election between COVID-19 and COVID-20.
Seriously, the governor of New York uses The NY Times Op-Ed pages to talk to the President of the US?
Isn’t there a protocol between these highly paid elected officials to talk to each other on matters of national importance?
4
Great suggestions from the governor. I hope the federal government responds promptly because right now we're heading for disaster.
However, Mr. Cuomo needs to do much more too. Close the schools! Impose greater restrictions on social life!
What the heck is he waiting for?
1
Finally, someone making some concrete sense. Do this.
Did you see the press briefing on Saturday? Did you see the ridiculous cap that Trump was wearing? It was one of his campaign hats, USA Trump 45. He shows up at a coronavirus briefing to promote himself. And people just sit there, looking dumb. The day before, he incoherently mumbled something about Obama being a bad president. All lies, as usual, but even if true, it wouldn't be relevant to what's going on now. I wonder why Trump is not confronted openly? If I showed up at a corporate boardroom or any other job making presentations like he does, I would be cut off and fired. He was elected president (which I find really hard to understand) but I don't see that giving him a pass to conduct himself in ways that nobody else is allowed to. To be honest, the passivity is irritating. When he lies intentionally and behaves like a moron, he should be confronted there and then, just like everybody else is in normal social interactions.
8
@The Hawk Looks like a dunce cap!
Governor Cuomo is leading the nation with actions and plans for preparedness. His fierce determination is in stark contrast to Trump's wilful, crafty, stubborn, selfish, shallow idea of what it is a president does and what he should do in a crisis.
Now we learn that Jared K and Stephen Miller wrote that idiotic speech on Wednesday and somehow forced Trump to give it. The "Family" mode of leadership.
To top off the whole sordid family incompetence, Trump probably made a lot of money on Friday.
I would add that the President needs to activate the US Army Reserve Medical Corps in addition to active duty military. They have the equipment ready to set up mobile hospitals. They can create isolation wards, Intensive Care Units, Operating Rooms etc. They could be set up within a week at critical areas throughout the country.
1
"States cannot build more hospitals, acquire ventilators or modify facilities quickly enough."
Ventilators? Get those iron lungs out of storage!
87 years ago this month Franklin Roosevelt uttered some words of wisdom: 'the only thing we have to fear is . . . fear itself.' And I saw fear in action this week--people swarming a local market to load up on toilet paper. One guy carrying 24 rolls! Toilet paper? For a respiratory virus? Fear in action. Mob mentality. 'Social media' in overdrive. If we all stay calm, stay smart, and not cave in to fear, we'll be alright. A crisis in also an opportunity. Let's use it. We'll learn from this--as long as we avoid fear.
2
Watching his news conference now. He is showing real leadership at the right time.
Though local and regional political leadership have step up to this point, he is correct in pointing the need for real and effective leadership.
Hopefully, inhope shareholders and corporate leadership will use this moment in time to strongly consider relocating some modicum of manufacturing back to the USA. it is a legitimate national security matter now!!!
1
Relax, Governor Cuomo; your intelligent advice is not needed by the Trump MisAdministration.
Pastor Pence and Jared Kushner are on the coronavirus case.
Trump is still blaming other countries.
The nation's Chief Diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is still referring to the coronavirus as the Wuhan Virus to ensure the base remains loyally xenophobic for their Dear Leader.
Everything will be just fine and it will magically go away.
"We've got tremendous people working on it"
Yikes !
4
As Commander in Chief of the New York National Guard, why can’t the Gov could mobilize appropriate personnel?
4
Using the National Guard would help, but that doesn’t address all the points about testing and having a uniform policy across all the states. That can be done only at the federal level.
@Gds
Because NY is functionally bankrupt and he wants Uncle Trump to pay for it.
The Governors need to act immediately and call up the National Guard in every state, if Trump does not federalize the call up today.
People will go hungry. Food is not being rationed and it must be. There are vulnerable shut in and disabled populations that will go hungry.
Panic has already set in on many parts of the country.
People who lack nutrition and get sick will die.
2
Trump isn't listening or reading. He doesn't read anything, and he watches only Fox News. However you make a lot of good points, so thank you!
1
While I do not disagree with what Governor Cuomo has written, it scares me that he is advocating giving Donald John Trump, our president with no rutter and little brain power, so much power. Remember he loves power and has kissed the feet of some of the most ruthless dictators in the world (and yes Putin is a dictator in president's clothing.)
2
@Tom Governor Cuomo is not advocating. He's going nose-to-nose with Trump.
Given how Trump has been kicking around the good people of the Great State of New York and our Governor, Andrew Cuomo, the move is both subtle and brilliant.
This is laughable. The Army is supposed to fight not be nurses for coronavirus patients.
1
And a President is supposed to lead in times of crisis, not wear stupid hats
Gov. Cuomo is to be commended for his actions. Unfortunately the administration in the White House took the Coronavirus crisis too lightly. Kudlow, a couple of weeks ago said it was contained...wrong. The person in the Oval Office said a miracle will make it go away...wrong. Too many highly unqualified and incompetent people are giving trump advise and so he keeps contradicting himself on an hourly basis. Not very settling for anyone who listens to his babbling. I keep getting e mails from restaurants and retail stores letting know how they are working hard to keep their employees and patrons safe. Is washing hands a new concept? Is disinfecting work areas and public areas in restaurants a new concept? How about continuing these good habits year round. It couldn't hurt.
3
It’s comical to think that Trump would read anything longer than a few sentences in length.
2
good. now, let's re-open all the hospitals foolishly closed over the last decade. we're gonna need more hospital beds. let's start converting the midtown hotels now. empty buildings? we're gonna need sick wards. let's go.
2
The ICE storm troopers have already been turned loose , armed and ready. How many more soldiers do we need? There hasn't been much looting yet.
Our Trillion Dollar per year Military machine needs to be mobilized now helping to control this unprecedented crisis ! The U.K.has their soldiers guarding food markets, depots and hospitals. Plus assisting with COVID19 testing stations away from the main hospital locations. China, Singapore, S. Korea are doing the same things, but much more efficiently in combating and containing the COVID19 spread! The USA has lost a critical window of opportunity preventing this spreading disaster, and it starts with Trump with his indecisiveness/misinformation/impulsiveness!
2
Apologies if you have seen this comment elsewhere. I am trying to catch the attention of NYTimes.
I urge the NYTimes journalists to report on ways, in which private citizens could help fight the coronavirus pandemic. Where to donate? How to support medical workers? Patients? Quarantined individuals? People financial or in other ways impacted?
Let’s help each other.
6
President Trump’s alternate reality appears hard-wired. He fiercely combats any reality not in alignment with his fantasies. The President’s former gauche predicaments were self-inflicted injuries (Some very fine people on both sides). His reality is the stock market and business. The death of human beings is not something that keeps him awake at night. It’s beyond his ken. As a Canadian - to you my brothers and sisters and neighbor - I urge governors of all the states to agree upon universal measures implemented simultaneously ASAP!! Think simple. The future is barreling upon us exponentially. Your President is inept. For your own sake – dear God - take control. Drive the car.
1
We must mobilize to manufacture ventilators--partnering with the companies that already make them--and train medical professionals to use them. Let's greatly expand this capacity immediately, using all the public and private resources we have.
I haven't found any reporting about any such effort.
Governor Cuomo, can you spearhead it?
It seems like our lack of ventilators will lead to a triage situation, like the one being faced in Italy, where hospitals are forced to let some people die.
Let's move on this--we can do it! We just need the leaders to lead.
2
Governor Cuomo, let me share with you a little secret, there isnt much the military can do to help! During the cold war the armed forces retained a robust medical corps with the idea to serve a military that could fight 1 major and 2 minor conflicts simultaneously. That went from a theory to absolute disregard. The military is so strapped for medical resources that in most installations overseas and in CONUS most of the care for servicemembers and their families is provided by local community medical staff! They can't take care of their own during what is relative peace time how the heck are they to provide services to the whole country in a time of crisis? The military medical corps is a shell.
48
@Ed The Army Corps of Engineers would not be providing medical services. They build things. Like make-shift Hospitals.
29
@Ed um...the same military won world war 2, and a thousand other things. I guess you were never in the military , bunch of young men and women incredibly fit , can do amazing things.
14
@Ed
The Military has billions of dollars worth of taxpayer money and they get more every year. They can mobilize fast. This is an absolute necessity.
20
The school issue in New York is an interesting problem. Our schools have essentially become parents/caretakers. Now NYC Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo are faced with the prospect of handing back responsibility for those children to their parents.
Once upon a time working parents worked and parented.
5
No, working parents did not parent and educate unless one parent was a homemaker or they hired help to watch children after school or they had parents who stepped in to help. I am so tired of people who deny reality because of some ideological mindset. Enough of your self-aggrandizing. I know, I was a working mom!!!! And I raised my children with the help of my husband, my parents and a wonderful dedicated babysitter who filled the gaps. But, I had the means to do this. We need universal childcare for those who are not as fortunate as I was.
2
@AACNY there was a never a time when working parents worked and parented. They always depended upon a wide array of supporting systems. Poor families have always had both parents working and always struggled desperately for child-care. Schools have always been a key resource in this.
It has always been the wealthy who have had a single breadwinner with a stay at home parent.
You are repeating a myth made common by baby-boomer television in the 1950s and 60s. It has never every been true.
@Steve
I am speaking from experience. Many of my friends were also in this same situation -- that is, they had single working mothers for whom child care was a luxury.
3
Gov. Cuomo's statement that the U.S. has fewer hospital beds per capita than other countries may be a little misleading. In countries such as China or in the Third World, many hospital beds are devoted to long-term patients who in the U.S. might be in senior care facilities or nursing homes. Also, the U.S. has many specialized facilities such as rehabilitation centers for accident and stroke victims, or patients with psychological or addiction problems. American hospitals are primarily devoted to short-term acute care for accident victims, those undergoing surgery or people with heart disease or cancer. Coronavirus presents a unique challenge, and it will test the limits of our current system of health care.
1
Then why is the school still open and most employees in the city (not just those working for the city) required to show up on Monday? Cuomo and de Blasio are paying a dangerous political game here. On one hand claiming how dangerous COVID-19 is (it is more dangerous) and on the other hand trying to get the situation worsens so they can blame Trump.
There is thousands infected in New York, most cannot be sure because no place to test. Schools are the #1 breeding ground for disease because you are dealing with people that’s super active and cannot follow rules. Not closing down schools is just asking for COVID-19 to spread among kids and have a bunch of asymptomatic carriers running around infecting everyone.
The argument of “no free breakfast and lunch” doesn’t hold water. You can just keep the cafeteria open and let any kids that wants to eat come in and have a meal. The budget is there already because that’s just the school meal budget already allocated.
The political infighting where politicians care more about scoring points and their own careers are going to sink this nation. A few days ago I think those “tens of millions infected” number cannot be real because look at China and how they managed it did then I realized China acted because Xi cannot be seen as inactive while politicians here don’t want to be seen as the 1st that disrupt people’s daily life. They will wait as long as possible to avoid personal responsibility.
6
@AmateurHistorian It's the federal government's job to step up at times like these. Cuomo and de Blasio are correct to place the responsibility squarely in the lap of Donald Trump, for after all, unfortunately for all Americans, though he is the most unfit, unqualified man to get the job done, the job belongs to him.
I was afraid, yet sure, this day would come. So, here it is. Let's see if the loud-mouth in the White House can deliver. Here's his chance to make this – the greatest response to a disaster in the history of all disasters!!
I don't live in NY and don't know much about the governor
But I am watching his press conference right now and he's awfully impressive.
Decisive, detail oriented, confident, in command.
People reveal themselves during a crisis.
I like the cut of this man's jib
3
Governor Cuomo - why don't YOU make some hard decisions, and close the bars and force restaurants to go delivery only?!
Hoboken has already done it, but here in NY you and Mayor DeBlasio refuse to step up and as a result, the bars were PACKED last night.
Make the tough call - do the right thing and stop young people who think they are invincible from overloading the system as they spread disease!!
162
@ShaunBK.You are being very cavalier and dismissive of the horrible effects on peoples livelihoods and ability to earn a living and pay bills. It is very easy to advocate closings of business when said closing does not affect YOU.So why don't we do it this way:if you don't want to go to a bar or restaurant because of the carona virus.....then don't go!.I do not want to live under martial law ,thank you As my father used to say"nobody has a gun to their head to make everyday decisions "
4
@ShaunBK It's a hoax
Relax
That is what Biden said.
1
I just watched Cuomo talk about the current situation in NYS. Now I'm basically a supporter of the governor, who's far more talented as a leader than our hapless mayor. What I did NOT like, however, was hearing why we can't close schools. Far from being centers of education, they are de-facto babysitting institutions that can't be closed because "where will thousands of kids get meals?" and "who will watch the kids if there are healthcare workers that have to stay home for their kids?". WHAT IS THIS? What kind of country are we living in when we can't make a critical health decision because we need our schools to act as daycare facilities? What happens to these kids when school is NOT in session during summers and holidays? I just want to point out how outrageous it is that we live, even here in the great State of New York, in a society where public health is put at risk because we don't provide adequate care for our children, allowing to close them for everyone's benefit because the kids would have no place to go or ways to eat. Are YOU, ladies and gentlemen, happy living in a society that allows for such outrageous deficiencies?
8
@ManhattanWilliam
Totally agree. Just heard deBlasio is closing schools until April 20. Disgraceful that it took a near revolt and the Queens Borough President’s call for parents to keep their kids home.
Thank God he never made it through the Presidential primary.
1
Please, New Yorkers of means, donate [more] to your food banks (Google tells me there are at least three) so they can get food to students who rely on school free and reduced price breakfasts and lunches, and seniors who can pick up food on a drive by so they don't have to shop in crowded stores.
3
As a true progressive Cuomo wants something for nothing and for the feds to pay for it. He can call up the Guard on NYs own nickel.
4
The article asks for a national strategy in dealing with the issue. And the Feds don’t pay for anything, we all do.
1
I have a friend who is an overnight ER nurse at a major hospital in Buffalo NY. We have an extended population of 1 million. She says the hospital is badly underprepared - and critical under equipped with proper masks, gowns, supplies to handle an epidemic. If the federal government builds additional temporary bedding facilities that seems prudent.
PS Cuomo’s intelligent, adult leadership is what we need in a crisis. Not a potus too busy blaming others for his own failures of knowledge and his willful ignorance. That’s not leadership, that national suicide.
3
@Rob : Has Trump gone golfing today? Poor guy has to deal with a crisis and couldn't go to Florida to play his perfect golf game (where he cheats on every hole).
1
Re: There’s a Giant Hole in Pelosi’s Coronavirus Bill
I submit there's a collective hole in our thinking about this, which is partially (and understandably) caused by being sensitive to racial issues.
That being said, the scientific facts are that China's negligence, in mixing wild animals with farmed in their live animal markets, is responsible for this outbreak.
Covid-19 started the same way as SARS did 17 years ago. The WHO warned in 2006 that "the SARS episode has underscored the importance of changing animal husbandry practices, or more viruses are likely to emerge from the animal world."
China needs to be held responsible, because once this passes they'll go right back to doing the same things which caused this latest disaster.
Just for perspective, SARS reached about 8000 worldwide cases with about 800 deaths. For Covid-19 we're now at just under 160,000 cases with deaths topping 6000!
4
Can the NY Times clarify something about the cost of testing?
If you go in with symptoms, the clinic or hospital will FIRST test you for the "regular" flu...
So...if only the "Coronavirus" test is "free to anyone who asks"..
What happens when you test positive for the regular flu, and are sent on your way?
If you have or don't have insurance,do you get billed or co-payed for that "regular flu" test?
Once it's established you have the regular flu, you won't be tested further for the test that " will be available free" to every American....?
3
Will the president read this? A president known to not read but rather watch television. Wouldn't it be more effective for Governor Cuomo to send this message across via some of those Sunday politics shows on TV?
I agree that the president needs to get real and call in the troops. But he can’t get real because he doesn’t know what reality is. He is mentally ill. Nothing in the world matters to him except himself. Very thing is filtered though his Me lens. He is devoid of empathy. This crisis shows the severity now more than ever.
Also, Cuomo should close the schools, bars and restaurants. If France, a foodie place if there ever was one, can do it so must we.
3
No so fast. Leave the military healthy and separate from the population. They must remain healthy because a worse problem is coming from China and it will not be a virus. They must remain fit and able. You can call for idle, retired, or unemployed to volunteer instead. Sign me up.
2
@Charlie Chan Can
The groups that we have to focus on protecting right now are the at the "at risk", health care workers and the military.
2
It’s abundantly clear that djt is totally incapable of handling a crisis of this magnitude. In large part because he is simply incapable of feeling empathy. It’s all about winning and ratings. He even managed to make a worldwide pandemic partisan by calling it a “democratic hoax”.
Americans, we have to look to our state and local government for leadership and guidance to help us through this global disaster. God bless and VOTE HIM OUT In November. Your country needs you.
2
It would be a monumental mistake to use troops, they need to stay isolated as much as possible.
It's a readiness thing.
Can't send sick troops off to war.
Sick troops can't defend this country.
3
Let us all implore the mayor to shut all bars and restaurants. Lets close all non-essential services for several weeks. Lets stop the transmission of this virus now. It is imperative to demand action.
4
Amen. And thank you Governor Cuomo. My sentiments exactly. May this please go viral.
Thank for your succinct analysis. We need leadership and you have demonstrated how inept this administration is. Thank you Sir
Cuomo hits the nail on the head. The US Government must start a war on v coronavirus and spend the money need to beat it. One hopes that Trump listens and takes immediate action.
@Jeff
So far one significant bill allocating $8.3B has been passed, another is close to passage, and numerous authorizations to get testing done more quickly have been issued, including an emergency declaration this week.
This is what "taking action" looks like during a pandemic.
1
The link below is to the Lancet, a respected Journal. Bottom line, we don't know exactly what the mortality rate is for Covid-19. It could be as low as 1.5% or as high as 7%. so for a population of 350 million, deaths could vary from 5,250,000 to 24,500,000.*
The complete idiocy of trump and his administration has caused a severe lag in reaction to this pandemic. People said a national emergency was going to highlight how bad trump is at being President and sadly it has been proven true.
The American people demand leadership, not what we have now. So to all of you, be safe, follow CDC suggestions and remember this in November.
*https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30195-X/fulltext
3
If the Army can be deployed to drink coffee at the Mexican border for months on end they can certainly work on coronavirus infrastructure.
They might have to also have to man the Costcos if things get out of hand!
1
@SoCal : The Guard will be needed to protect the toilet paper, 1 per customer!
1
That seems like a slippery slope!! It’s easy for the rich and powerful to call for the military because they have access to the best care and don’t expect the military to turn its barrels on them!
Next thing the military will be forcing the majority poor into quarantine Chinese-style without treatment, just so they can die off and “solve” the problem!!
I think this call by the governor just shows the social inequality in the country and the dangerous mindset of some of the powerful who are out of touch with the majority who are poorer!
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
- Mike Tyson
This is a potential future "Trump Tweet" to rationalize firing the entire CDC pandemic response team in 2018 to cut costs.
@José Franco
"The battle plan is the first casualty of war." Those who believe something of this proportion, which affects literally every aspect of our lives, could have been contained by a plan are kidding themselves.
As comforting as it is to believe that there is a godlike president who could have contained the virus and that testing would have stopped it are engaging in magical thinking.
Demanding perfection allows people to believe someone is actually in control.
1
Gov. Cuomo, you’re wasting your breath with Trump & friends.
State governors who step up and act in the face of federal inaction will be the national leaders of tomorrow. I hope you have been in touch with Govs. Inslee & Newsome.
Those of us in GOP-led states are in trouble; we must count on y’all to set an example.
2
China built a hospital in Wuhan in 10 days. The US cannot even get people off the planes at a airport.
2
I guess that Trump should have been seeking better medical preparedness when many agencies discontinued it 10 years ago, during the Obama Administration. More recently instead of promoting calm, he should have been shouting, “The virus is coming. Run for your lives”.
The virus came from China. Unlike in USA, in China one of the main tabs on every Chinese news outlet is China’s Military, which incidentally is mostly funded by you Americans. In China, therefore, the military is related to everything directly or indirectly. It is omnipresent. In fighting the China Virus, enlist the military as China does.
It doesn't take a genius to know social distancing will NOT work unless it is reinforced by enforcement agencies. Today, here in Rego Park not only the "mom & pop" grocery stores but Costco are experiencing chaos. Costco of all placed have unreplenished/unrestocked shelves and now dry food stocks are under siege. Limited paper goods and that's if you can find it, no rubbing alcohol for home brew sanitizers, "Paid" parking lots already full even before Costco opens, no handsoaps nor bleach. Across the courtyard where less affluent people purchase foods is Aldi's where the lines are unimaginably long people are obviously buying to hoard. I for one am not too thrilled with either May Bill DeBlasio nor this Liar-in-Chief. I live in NYC, one of the most if not "thee" most affluent city in the country and it's now crazy town USA!
The governor makes a good point. When the ebola crisis hit West Africa the Army did dispatch a unit to set up field hospitals.
Cuba, with its limited resources sent several thousand doctors. But that's another story. The point is that the army should be ordered to at least develop plans for setting up a number of mobile field hospitals.
It's probably too early to tell where they might be needed. But these hospitals can literally be set up in a matter of days.
So far everything that Washington has done has been behind the curve. Here's a chance to finally do some advance planning. Hopefully we won't need them. But if we do, they should be readied now, not when patients are on gurneys in the hallways.
1
Since churches aren't meeting today, perhaps we can all pray that we make science great again, make expertise great again, and get someone who can play act as President and do a better job of it than at least one of the first graders on my street.
4
Some people commenting here insist that there is no downside to overreaction to the novel coronavirus outbreak. That is simply not the case.
The overreaction going on now in the U.S. is doing untold damage to the economy, costing the working poor millions in lost wages and is generally putting people into panic mode.
New York Gov. Cuomo, however, apparently sees no downside. Why else would he be proposing giving the federal government—under the control of Donald J. Trump—unbridled new powers to close schools, businesses and public events nationwide. Although the governor sugarcoats this power by describing it as setting a “uniform federal standard” for closings, the result would take the decision-making out of the hands of local and state officials.
On the other hand, Mr. Cuomo wants to take the power to approve test labs and procedures away from federal officials and give them to the states, which could result in uneven standards and substandard results.
The governor justifies these proposals by cherry-picking the scariest of the worst-case scenarios, which foretells of infections to 214 million Americans, or around 2/3rds of the country. That ignores the fact that the country hardest hit by the virus, China, never topped 100,000 cases and new cases have been trending sharply downward, if the CCP’s figures are to be believed.
Of course, most cases are mild and the vast majority of people recover.
There are ways to control this outbreak with much less disruption.
4
@DanBal
Sadly, two weeks ago, the governor would have agreed with you.
In early March, when the first CV confirmed case was announced in NYC, Prince Andrew and Mayor Big Bird held a joint news conference at which the princeling insisted that while the CV is concerning, its not as grave as other illnesses such as ebola or the flu.
"Avian flu, ebola, SARS, MERS, measles, right? So we have gone through this before. When you look at the reality here, about 80% of people who are infected with the coronavirus self-resolve . . . 20 percent get ill. The mortality rate estimated to be about 1.4 percent -- what does that mean? The normal flu mortality rate is about 0.6 percent."
Queens Courier, Volume 33, Number 10
Week of March 5 - 11
The mayor supported Cuomo's stance, and said that the CV leaves healthy NYers with nothing to fear.
This was two weeks ago. Tempus volat. And he sees which way the political winds are blowing.
3
The Governor hit all the correct points.
I read it as what the U.S could have done in the 4 weeks watching China take draconian measures and building make-shift hospitals for the sick. Most of the comments and repotting were rather dismissive of the efforts.
The Federal government fumbled the ball so the states took hold of the reins of leadership. They did not do so by default. The states and the communities within are where the "rubber hits the road". In the end, the governors and the mayors are accountable.
The US is just moving up the curve, repeating the process we saw in China and now Europe which is now the epicentre.
After this crisis is over let's hope that lessons are learned. They are mostly political and of a governance nature.
1
Some good ideas but hospitals should be curtailing elective procedures now to prepare and be well supplied for the unfortunate increase in critically ill patients they will see. Unfortunately hospital will not do this voluntarily and the State Governors will have to take the lead on requiring hospitals to do this. No hospital wants to be the first one in a given community to do this because it puts them at greater risk of becoming a Covid 19 epicenter so the state governments will have to implement this across their state and quickly too. Seems like cases are doubling at a rate of 3-4 days and that is in an environment where testing kits are severely lacking.
5
Enough of the discussion, hand wringing and polling. These are very solid and needed proposals..let's get this done now!
3
Regarding mobilization of military resources, the Army has mobile field hospitals (modern versions of MASH units) each with 248 beds with an array of medical equipment.) as well as combat support hospitals. Their mission is to provide medical support in wartime and disaster support in peacetime. These are assets (paid for by taxpayer) that should be deployed and manned to meet the demand our soon to be overwhelmed hospitals for testing and treating citizens during this pandemic. In addition, there are Navy and Army hospital ships.
Perhaps there are plans to deploy these resources. But I have not heard of such plans through our usual news outlets. If such plans exist, the administration should share that with the public and, if not, why not?
9
Every governor, mayor and healthcare administrator in this country should send immediately a similar message to our esteemed leader. Maybe we can embarrass him into doing the right thing. Left on his own he will continue to ignore the CDC, deny responsibility and leave his successor with an unbelievable burden.
13
No, every Mayor and Governor should do what they think should be done. They don’t have to wait for the feds. Our FL governor says he doesn’t have the power to close things down, then he should get the legislature to give it to him.
3
@Jerry Shapiro New York has a huge budget as does the city of New York. Maybe Cuomo himself can do more.
Or, maybe Cuomo and Trump together can do a lot, if those on Cuomo's side can stop themselves from spitting at the president.
How about two weeks of NOT calling Trump an "idiot, tRump, autocrat, Nero, etc"?
I would recommend THAT kind of social distancing from the NYT readers, We Americans need to work together and your bitter anger is making it harder.
2
Given the prevalence of community spread, we must build and assign those who show any symptoms to “Fever Centers” as China has. In China, they found that majority of transmissions took place at private homes. Asking people who may have the infection to self-quarantine at home is to push the spread of the virus to homes. This is where the military can be useful. They can build or requisition facilities so that people who have fevers can go directly and wait out the test results to see if they’re safe to go home or wait out their quarantine at safe places without spreading it to their loved ones.
67
@UC Graduate
China also quickly constructs "camps" to "re-educate" Muslims (i.e., Uighurs). Such is the "benefit" of atotalitarianism.
1
Governor Cuomo outlined concrete plans.
Yet how will we staff additional facilities in multiple cities all around the country.?
China mobilized 30,000 healthcare workers just to ONE area which was also under complete Quarantine .
Quote "Workers set up beds at an exhibition center that was converted into a hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei ... China has sent more than 30,000 medical staff to Hubei, among which roughly two-thirds were sent to Wuhan."
This redefines a full-court press. What a mess.
21
@M
Specialists who normally do elective procedures could staff these facilities. I believe that has been done elsewhere. However, that's in countries with national health insurance and health care. We have privatized care operating on the profit model, so One potential problem is that the specialists can make more money continuing to do their elective procedures especially if wealthy people can outbid whatever reimbursements the special emergency centers reproduce. Since the AMA says health care is not a right, we may find that many physicians may not have any ethical inclination to help out less profitable patients. It's still worth a try.
7
@M
" China mobilized 30,000 healthcare workers …" or be shot. China made this perceived crisis by lying, oppression, cowardice, lack of humanity and a failure to cooperate with the international community. Do you really want to follow the communist way?
2
@M I can't speak for others b/c the risk to nurses and other health care workers is greater than other workers but I will come out of retirement to help.
11
I think we should all ask Jim Mattis to form a state-level COVID-19 task force. I trust him.
I don’t expect any help from the executive branch. For weeks DHS, CBP & TSA provided no real information to New Yorkers about who was being screened at the Tri-state airports and how many people were coming from COVID-19 hotspots. I know there are good people at these agencies; the head of the fish is the problem.
The Guardian reported that Trump turned down a WHO-approved test kit from the German government. We need a Congressional inquiry into this. We learned only in the last few days that the coronavirus can live in the air for three hours. The Chinese must have known this. I don’t understand why the info didn’t get to the American public, but it means all the guidance we received on hand washing & coughing carefully was necessary but insufficient.
The state government can train & deputize people to help out neighbors or work with schools safely. People want to aid children & others at risk. If they get laid off they will also have time on their hands. Creating a community-state partnership will also forestall social & economic collapse.
Let’s sell some bonds if necessary & get this started. It will be a logistical challenge; but next to coordinating with Quid-Pro-Quo, it’s a cakewalk. I trust the WH to use the crisis to accrue power & profits, so I’m not waiting on Trump. New Yorkers can fight this together. We’re doing it already.
4
Mr. Cuomo says that "we don't want a pathwork quilt of policies" and then asks that federal control of testing be removed. I guess a patchwork of testing methods is ok.
The rest reads like serious buck-passing and buck-asking.
Let the Feds make the closing decisions so that Mr. Cuomo doesn't have to make that call.
Then he asks for federal resources. I suppose he envisions those being allocated based on population density. But wait.. wouldn't that result in a patchwork quilt of new hospital infrastructure?
7
People familiar with the operation of government and industry understand the concept of “multiple sourcing”. It is a way to guard against potential inadequacies of any single supplier. In fact, multiple award contracts are quite common across federal, state, and local agencies. Never before has the need for this been more obvious.
11
@Debbie I understand multiple sourcing and I agree it makes sense. If only Mr. Cuomo had used that as the basis for his argument.
If multiple sourcing is allowed, some states will have different procedures than others as each selects or is able to obtain different providers. This would result in that patchwork quilt Mr. Cuomo is so worried about.
It is not the end Mr. Coumo desires regarding testing to which I object. It is the inconsistency in his arguments.
Oh, I do fully object to mobilzing the military to build hospitals and I think that if Mr. Cuomo wants to be a leader he should not ask the president to make the call. Rather Mr. Cuomo should just shut down NY state if he thinks that is the right thing to do. Or not.
4
I take it that you’d prefer to have state leaders stand around until Trump gets off the links, somebody manages to get him to focus for five seconds, and Anthony Faucci manages to drag something resembling coherent policy out of him.
You know...in the little window before Hizzoner panics, changes whatever he has that passes for a mind, and revokes the whole thing with a 5 AM tweet.
2
If this article is truly meant for 45's eye, it has to be simpler.
Trump virus bad, Trump we need less regulations, Trump use army to help, Trump we need more room in hospitals, Trump don't wait, Trump save American lives, and if Trump does all this Trump Will Be Great!
All with pretty pictures of course.
12
@Jake I take it that while Mr. Trump was conducting a meeting on the White House lawn, you were watching Tarzan? (smile).
Actually that meeting was very well conducted and Trump answered all the questions with facility. That included some hostile questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EJS7xGRNbk
The man who conducted that meeting clearly knew English. I am NOT saying that Trump was well informed about everything and that he is taking ALL the right actions. But he is far from being Tarzan.
1
@Ludwig : You liked it that Trump shook hands with every person, they all stood as if crammed in a tuna can, that he called an African-American woman reporter, 'nasty' for a perfectly appropriate question? He lied his way through again, you like that?
Trump is a complete disaster. 1,000% disaster for our country.
3
I am currently in Southwest Germany - today here is a beautiful sunny day of 62 degrees. People flooding nature hiking and cycling. First beer gardens are open and visited.
People are relaxed. I haven’t seen one with a mask. But many with a smile. The mood: we do not let us destroy this awesome spring day by this virus.
In Germany we currently have roundabout 5000 (known) infected. That sounds at first a lot. And probably is even more. But we also only have 8 deaths. Which is 1 in 1 million. And just 0,4 percent death rate. (Or even lower considering that there are far more unknown infected than unknown deaths)
its by far the lowest rate of all major impacted countries.
No, we do not have the military locking down people. No, Germany didn’t close its border to any of its neighbors. (Though they did)
Maybe to stay a bit more relaxed, pragmatic, yet informed, educated about how to stay healthy would be a better state of mind than a „state of emergency“ attitude.
Just wash your hands, don’t touch your face and avoid stress because that suppresses more than anything else your immune system.
3
Here’s an idea. Order everyone at Mar-a-Lago to quarantine in place, including staff. (At least one Mar-a-Lago guest, Fabio Wajngarten, press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has now tested positive for the coronavirus.) Send protected personnel in to disinfect the place and show the occupants how to quarantine themselves and tend to each other safely. Designate and retrofit an accute care isolation unit on the premises. Rather than building quarantine facilities from scratch like China, enhance the facilities we have and add medical equipment and personnel and patients. As tests become available people can get tested, cleared, and discharged and new cases of exposure and infection can move in. This can be replicated at every Trump Hotel in the world. Of course Trump doesn’t own enough real estate to contain the virus. But if this model of containment is effective, Donald Trump would be the example of How to Be. Others would follow. Remember when George Stephanopoulis asked candidate Trump if he understood what it meant to sacrifice? The candidate answered that he employed thousands and thousands of people and worked very hard. Urban vacation spots will not be attracting vacationers for now. Here’s a chance to change a loss to a sacrifice. It costs a lot and may save lives. If it works they will be making musicals about this guy in a couple hundred years.
1
I think this is a terrible idea. Putting federal troops at trump's "disposal" is just asking for more trouble from a man who's already unhinged. I think we would do far better to self-police, to stop the cavalier types and help them to realize what they're doing. From another op-ed piece in the NYT:
"The idea is simple: If low-risk people don’t socially distance, then the entire containment process is not effective. Generally, there are fewer high-risk individuals — the sick and the elderly — and they don’t tend to move around as much as lower-risk individuals. Therefore, it’s more likely that a low-risk individual will expose a high-risk individual to the virus."
9
Dear Governor, your honor.
I am praying you read this, in much the way you pray the President reads your request.
We can stop this epidemic, flatten the curve and it is really easy. The key is face masks. The countries that are slowing the spread all have one thing in common..everybody is wearing masks.
The mask stops thing by forcing that person who might have Corona virus from spreading it by cough. But to have that happen it must be made a state rule that if you go out everybody must wear a mask. Americans by nature don’t like wearing them and feel socially awkward so make it law
We need to make millions of N95 masks, put the prisoners to work, put every garment manufacturer to work, they are masks, they can’t be that hard to make, honestly. This one thing halts the spread
When you give out the masks, use the orchard beach parking lot, it’s gigantic, you could literally have one hundred lines of cars. Every week , everybody gets 7. People should also have a way to buy their own, what company wouldn’t jump at the chance to make and sell masks, it would be like printing money.
I understand that a lockdown is coming so the medical profession can catch their breath. Just close everything but anything involving food, and restaurants should move to delivery only. No face to face contact with delivery person, you pay by credit card including the tip, food is left in front of the door. But don’t lock people in
New York should, and can lead the way. I hope you read this.
1
Dear Governor,
The Federal government has proven that it is incapable of handling this national emergency. Please make decisions now for NY State. As governor you have the tools to do more. Its is better to overreact than to lament how slow our state leaders were to mobilize all resources and power to slow the spread of this virus. Close schools; close restaurants and bars; deploy the guard to staff emergency facilities. We all appreciate true leadership at these times. Please do more and if that doesn't slow the spread, then do even more again!
4
I have friends in New Rochelle who had the County health department come to their house for testing both husband and wife. They were told that in about 24 to 48 hours they would receive the results of the test. 60 hrs. have passed with no results. When they called the "hot line" they were told that they are "probably negative" but that they will have to get their results before they can break quarantine. They were told the results will be "mailed" to them (snail mail). "Can they assume at this point they were negative?", they asked the hot line person. "No" they were told. Crazy!!
1
Governor Cuomo should have closed with " Lastly, these actions will greatly help your re-election campaign". That seems to be the only thing our clueless leader cares about.
4
Where is the State Department in all this? There seems to be no consolidated international dialogue and Mike Pompeo has been absent from all the president’s meetings I’ve seen.
1
Just use good old fashioned common sense, and wash your hands . Don’t touch anything unless you have to, keep your distance from people (personal space). If you are willing to give up freedom for security you deserve neither
1
I wish you were our President right now, Mr. Cuomo.
1
@Amy Taub
He does too! Be careful what you wish for. Right thinking New Yorkers rightfully criticize him on a number of issues, yet we keep electing our own narcissist. The world of NY revolves around him and his family. Don't worry, Prince Andrew, I will always call it the Tappan Zee Bridge. And I grew up on the other side of Hillside Avenue than you did. And luckily, I graduated St. Gerard's the year you entered. Praise be to God.
1
I thought of this idea three weeks ago when I read that China had set up a number of temporary "facilities" (i.e., hospitals) to care for Corona virus patients. Mr. Trump has always severely criticized the Chinese for stealing our "ideas" (i.e., intellectual property), now is the time to borrow an idea from the Chinese.
1
Andrew Cuomo is not above grandstanding with an open letter to the President to use the military to solve the Covid -19 dilemma which may or may not help, but would certainly bring on a whole new logistical nightmare to the situation. Instead of using this letter as an out, why not utilize all of N.Y. assets immediately to protect New Yorkers. The military is not only not trained, and not equipped for the request, but have their duty to protect the nation from our enemies, not Covid-19.
3
Amen
1
The president will not marshal resources to build hospitals in zipcodes that he can’t win. Those resources he fights for are for building the wall. Mexico saying build that wall already.
1
Leadership is being led by Governor Cuomo and Governor Inslee. The Federal Government should in fact take a leading role in a Pandemic. If not then when? But we have a failed administration proving totally inept when put under fire. Trump is good at hyperbole and misinformation campaigns. He can shout out absurd right wing partisan comments for cheers and laughs at a political rally. His son's can cheer him on in Twitter comments. But when it comes to actual truth and guidance during a national emergency, look to the states. They will be our guiding light.
6
Thank you, Governor Cuomo. I may not see eye to eye on most things with him (¡Viva! Zephyr Teachout), but this is a good move. Take it from me, the Army does field hospitals really, really well. There are currently 22 deployable Combat Support Hospitals in the Continental United States. Each has a standard 250 bed capacity, which is further expandable using standard, double-expanding ISO containers. If we deploy to the parking lots of existing hospitals in critical areas, we can leave the surgical suites behind and focus exclusively on adding critical care beds.
Duty, Honor, Country
9
There is also the National Guard. Every state has one.
For the future....we will see other pandemics and crisis. The next not Trump Presidency should include a National Service Corps. Include and fund medical students and other health professionals.
6
Whoa - slow down on activating the military. It is up to each state to provide healthcare to residents, and to respond to emergencies. Why is it now the Federal Govt job. Just weeks ago, many were complaining that the Fed was too involved in State affairs. The Federal Govt should provide guidance, and in some cases funding, but it is up to each state to take care of residents.
4
@G G This is a pandemic. No state can mobilize w/o massive federal assistance now. This is no time to complain that the states are not prepared. You in MA, specifically, Boston, no longer have time to take care of yourselves so you may want to think about the terrible risk to your loved ones now instead of waiting for the state of Massachusetts or the city of Boston to fight this alone.
4
@G G In a National Emergency of this scale, using the Army Corps of Engineers and our military is just common sense. It still won't be enough but it will certainly help and provide structure instead of ad-hoc chaos. I know it's scary but this needs to happen. As a fire victim and flood victim in CA, the National Guard always shows-up and shuts things down to keep the peace and monitor for looting and other sordid craziness that goes on during a community emergency. This needs to happen. Now. It's very much like organizing for war, and that's what the military does best.
1
Last night, I watched in disbelief as my Boston area local news station was showing long lines of young people waiting on lines to enter crowded bars in South Boston, presumably to celebrate St. Patricks's Day. This morning, it was announced that those establishments would be closed for the day. I applaud Gov. Cuomo's statement, but the time has come for action. Since the federal government isn't providing crisis leadership, someone has to take the first step in protecting the public health. If he takes this action other governors will follow.
10
Let it be recorded for the history books that using federal resources for emergency measure like this one and many others are not coming from the federal government but from the states. Little command and control and zero leadership to give Americans a sense of confidence.
We know clearly enough what three plus years of a Trump presidency means for the health and safety and security of the United States. So much capability, so little leadership.
11
I am so very sorry but I have to ask: at what point is the cure worse than the disease? What is the end game strategy to all of the government intervention being demanded? At what point and under what process does a society return to normal? If we cannot enjoy arts, sports, gatherings of any kind, what is the point of social order? If we cede our most basic liberties to government, can we keep our republic? And when the economy collapses, what will be the funding source for all of the care to be distributed to one and all? Will the government print worthless paper and pretend it has value? I realize we are in the initial stages and perhaps discussion of these topics is off limits for the present, but I can't help but wonder. Sorry.
7
Your concerns are noted and the social activities we enjoy in a free society will return in time. The short term goal is as much containment as possible bf keeping people more separate. Then in a few weeks or months we reevaluate where we are. Unfortunately the overall lack of tests will make that more difficult as there are likely many infected people who don’t even know they have it. This is a failure on the federal level.
8
There needs to be plans for after beginning right now. Unfortunately our leaders can’t even wrap their hands around the right now. We, as smart people, need to help them by writing down what we think will make us feel safe enough to venture out and participate in society once this is all done. All I know is that the status quo of living in the moment and care for no one but yourself has got to end.
2
In the real world, the government is there to ....govern. That means doing whatever is necessary to stop coronavirus. What us is government it if doesn't help the people in need? If you don't like the government giving help to people who catch the virus then refuse treatment if you get it.
2
It’s becoming clear that when you put aside his ability to lie, to exaggerate, to insult, to over-promise and to sow chaos and dissent, trump essentially is pretty much useless.
He’s also a very counter-productive influence in terms of how the country is perceived globally.
I’m living in London at the moment and am reasonably well positioned to monitor sentiment towards America.
Many of the Brits with whom I deal are not surprised by trump’s boorish behaviour (they’ve become accustomed to although not acceptive of it) but they are infuriated by his use of that preposterous "USA" cap at a time when the global community should be coming together and acting as one.
America is nothing without its allies and I hope that when this matter has played out, Americans will never again forget that.
25
As an American it’s my sincere hope that this reign of stupidity is near its end and the relationships with our allies in the UK and elsewhere are rebuilt ground up by an administration that returns to core democratic values.
1
I was a medic in the army reserves and a civilian ent-paramedic. Many medical people who serve in the national guard and reserves also use those same skills in the civilian sector.
I believe in the medical community’s ability to be resourceful and innovative in finding ways to meet the need during this crisis. Calling up the national guard may create more problems than it solves, especially in expanding the availability of healthcare.
Let’s get large scale testing done while putting together the means to expand patient treatment.
8
I appreciate Governor Cuomo's sense of urgency. It's clear that New York is heading toward a colossal healthcare crisis due to an inexcusable lack of testing (which has allowed the virus to spread undetected) and shortage of ICU beds. In light of the situation, why isn't the Governor taking the drastic measures that countries in Europe are taking to protect its citizens, namely closing New York's schools as well as its restaurants, bars, gyms and other spaces where people congregate? It is only a matter of time before the virus will force the Governor's hand and he will need to order New Yorkers to self-isolate like people are doing in Italy, Spain and France to slow the spread of the virus. I urge you, Governor Cuomo, to take strong action now. Every day you fail to do so you are putting more pressure on our healthcare system and first-responders and risking the lives of our people. Bringing in the army corps is not enough. We need to slow the spread of COVID-19 now by closing our schools and other public spaces . As you yourself wrote, "Time is short."
14
@Loren Runnels
Mayor deBlasio also needs to get real about closing the schools now. All is takes is one sick kid to force a school to shut down for cleaning anyway.
1
Also, use the medics. Most have at least EMT certification. You need medical staff for both normal work loads & whatever the pandemic adds. My son is a senior medic. if he could treat shot up soldiers in Afghanistan, he could do it in Detroit or wherever.
10
The Governor is promoting this for political purposes.
A problem for me is that media and government has not explained the "test." The ignorance and disdain for science in the USA is a weakness. The test is complicated, requiring reagents/procedures from two Nobel Prizes, both to Americans. The covid-19 virus, like the influenza virus, is an RNA virus. A sample is taken from a patient. RNA is amplified (more copies) by an enzyme Reverse Transcriptase, discovered by David Baltimore. From that RNA, an attempt to amplify (make detectable amounts) of specifically the RNA if present from cover-19 uses PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with short, chosen primers that base pair (complement) sequence in the covid-19 virus. PCR was discovered by Kary Mullis. These reactions use cycles of raising and lowering the temperature in an instrument and a special DNA polymerase that is thermally stable. Both reverse transcriptase and PCR to amplify and look for RNA molecules (rRT-PCR) are now taken for granted.
The procedure requires controls. In a lab you have to have controls. Any test based on molecular biology has a rate of false positives and false negatives. The CDC intended that a positive would have to be confirmed by repeating the test in Atlanta. Nevertheless, controls are necessary.
This test is not as simple as the procedure to look for flu, that is based on antibodies.
4
@NYT Reader We have had the genetic codes to develop the test since early January. The test is simple to design. We have had delays getting a test approved and out for other reasons. Please read as much as you can about this test or listen to the daily.
2
At least the governor is informed and listening to his experts. POTUS doesn’t even begin to comprehend what is facing us because he only cares about his political fortunes and suppresses any info that makes him look bad. He will literally gets people killed via sheer ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, vapidity and ego. He is the last person one would want “leading” in a crisis.
2
The quickest flu test depends on antigens, not antibodies. The others look for genetic material.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/testing.htm
Please let’s don’t play scientist. Or accuse a beleaguered, hard-at-work governor of playing politics without good solid reasons.
1
Trump won’t do this. He is likely spending this time to make deals with lab companies, medical suppliers, etc. that will benefit him and enrich the medical companies. One thing’s for sure: Trump is not concerned for the homeless, low wage workers living paycheck to paycheck, or anyone who does not have health insurance.
20
@Laura Katz I agree completely.
indeed he has been doing just that: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/15/trump-offers-large-sums-for-exclusive-access-to-coronavirus-vaccine
While google is scrambling to the develop the website Trump mischaracterized them working on, it's time to put real plans in place to enable the military to support the kind of testing and hospital capacity that will be needed once that sort of site is up and running.
The military has medics, logistical and communications expertise in setting up large-scale secure facilities, personnel who can be retrained quickly for novel tasks, and a competent, meritocratic leadership structure.
Congress can act legislatively to start this process with or without the President.
13
In the 70s, there was an Army Reserve 1000 Bed Hospital Unit in Ohio. It was capable of being activated and sent wherever it was needed around the world.
Fortunately, it was going to be used for the second Israeli war, which was over in a short time and was never activated.
Weekly, its members were sent one evening every week to handle Vets in the Cleveland Veterans Hospital, and its members went and worked there.
Additionally, for two weeks every year, all of its members were sent to military hospitals throughout the US. Those who had other acceptable full-time occupations and professional schools, were sent to US Military facilities throughout the US to work in all of their trained military capacities. They included Brooke Army Medical Hospital in San Antonio, Fort Knox in Kentucky, etc.
If that unit, or others like it still exist, why couldn't they be activated, by the US Government to perform the same functions here and in other major metropolitan centers throughout the US?
7
@Quandry And then, there are the FEMA Camps in Montana and other locales, established by that great patriot Ronald Reagan, (wink, wink,) which the righties were convinced Barack Obama was going to use to imprison and enslave citizens.
Am I the only one thinking this is how we go from the little freedom we have left to full blown occupation? Certainly making the 2nd amendment look like a reasonable option if we are to be MORE occupied than we already are.
3
At the moment we are still a democracy, inasmuch as that's possible in a rabidly exploitive money-manipulated mass inequality setting such as ours.
I am still waiting to hear if and when I will be tested. I have not been out of the country in years, nor in contact with anyone who has. I have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19--however so few have been tested. I have been self-isolating with my wife for about 1 week after having a flu-like illness with temperatures over 102. Fortunately controllable with acetaminophen. I contacted my doctor who gave advice but didn't want me to come in to be checked---understandable. I am 79 years old and want to know if I have Covid-19. Is getting me tested so difficult in the US? But so easy in other countries?
35
Please take care of yourself. My prayers are with you and your wife. It is unfortunate that despite living in one of the most advanced nation in the world there is no real direction as to what one must do for someone like you and many others who are in similar situations.
Sadly, most of our politicians are more concerned about politics and their own personal gain. It is rather unsettling to watch the Covid-19 task force always begin their press conferences with complementing the President and his “decisive” actions and polices.
6
@Grandpa Bob If your fever is down, no sore throat, no dry or wet cough and not getting worse you are probably experiencing a self limiting virus BUT if for any reason especially if you have any concerns at all call the local urgent care of the emergency room and let them know you will be in; drive there and present to the front desk to be seen. Thank you for self isolating and I wish you well.
6
@Grandpa Bob
Call another doctor. You are entitled to a second opinion. You can also call your county health department.
3
Another commenter is correct: The US Army Reserve has a substantial medical capacity that can be deployed anywhere on the globe on short notice. There are 14 Reserve Combat Support Hospitals that are being converted to Field Hospitals. Each one when fully deployed has up to 240 beds. They are staffed by fully trained doctors, nurses and techs drawn from their local community. Many of these units were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Some of these hospitals belong to Ready Force X, which is capable of deploying anywhere in 30 days or less. Also, these hospitals are fully self-contained: they carry their own electricity, water, toilets, HVAC and so on. They are all highly trained and drilled in carrying out surgery and patient care under combat conditions, including including attack by conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
They don't have lots of ventilator capacity but they surely could handle the overflow of heart attacks, car accidents, strokes and so on from fixed hospitals if the Italy scenario happens here
Lastly, the Army Corps of Engineers manages the construction of fixed hospitals. They have no medical capacity. I don't know if they could pull off the rapid construction of 1,000 bed hospitals as were built in China. This might be the time to find out
19
And if we the people are the ones paying for these, we the people should be able to access these in this war against a known hostile foreign entity.
Amazing how a tiny microbe (of sorts) can bring humanity and its worldly economies to its knees. That we have to debate how and where and under which circumstances our military medical resources, which each of us has invested in, can be applied to save and protect ourselves—is, from a galaxy birdseye view, insane. (Tho I understand we need a certain readiness for other hostile actors.) But if we can’t appropriate these in the current national emergency we may as well set course for Autoselfdestruct. Who needs a virus when we have Homo sapien sapiens (we had the hubris to name ourselves ‘intelligent’ and to also think we are) to bring ourselves down?
We could take the competition model (Boris Johnson’s cull-the-herd mentality) or the cooperation model (Andrew Cuomo’s let’s protect our most vulnerable, my personal preference, since we are only as strong as our community is strong). And there’s the Italy on-the-ground heartbreak tough choice model of who do we choose to save?
BTW what's happening in our favorite dictatorship? No stats from Russia. If Putin stays in he can actually hire T as his right-hand man after 11/20.
@David Sossen Sounds like M*A*S*H
I favor aggressive actions to stop the virus spreading. Sort term pain is better than long term suffering. Either a local community lockdown or prohibits large gathering either local concert, ballgame etc. maybe necessary. And we will not be the first country to do so, nor will we be the last country. Disease doesn't recognize national borders. So should be the approach or methods to contain the Covid-19.
12
All good, Gov. In addition, let’s require and assist companies that make ventilators and other devices/drugs that help people breathe to work three shifts to crank out as much product as possible for the foreseeable future.
15
Paying the price for gutting FEMA as to create more Civil Service jobs to pay back political favors thru Homeland Security, ICE, etc. was not a good idea.
16
The headline has, I suspect, mislead a lot of readers. The Governor is not asking to put troops on the street or any such thing, but simply to have the Corps of Engineers engage in expanding hospital capacity. The Corps, unlike the rest of the military, is already heavily engaged in domestic affairs and civilian life, for example, being in charge of the nation's waterways, dams, etc.
At least in principle, the Corps has to capacity to build things very quickly under difficult conditions (such as combat), so this strikes me as a good idea. Hopefully, Trump won't ignore it just because Cuomo suggested it.
32
Governor Cuomo,
Your argument is persuasive and your requests logical. I wish I felt The President would listen to you, and not be dismissive, or petty, or procrastinate further. I don’t. He won’t. Not until it’s too late. As a Canadian sharing our long border, I wish you were in the Oval Office instead.
35
Donald Trump could not do a more thorough job destroying our country if he intended to do it, or, as I believe, if he was tasked to do it.
The Republicans had an opportunity to work with Democrats to remove this president from office and instead chose partisan politics over their duty to protect our country.
Even if Mr. Trump followed the governor’s prescription to address this crisis the job would only be half done.
If Donald Trump remains in office there will almost certainly be another disaster following closely behind this one.
I believe that Mr. Trump should be impeached again, as soon as possible, and with a recommendation of removal from office.
If the Republicans balk again they can add the deaths of many more Americans to the tally they have already accumulated by their cynical inaction on gun control.
26
Is it true that the World Health Organization has already approved specific covid-19 tests that are widely in use in other countries? If so, why is the US government dithering with clinical trials on new tests? Are patent ownership by the medical industrial complex superseding immediate human medical necessity?
20
@M
The CDC experts chose to use our own test, which it believed was superior to the WHO's.
As for using another country's tests, it would have taken the FDA weeks to approve. Its processes are extremely restrictive, time consuming and require Executive authorizations to get around.
This is why testing has been so badly held up.
5
It is indeed true and the WHO tests are the majority of the ones used all over the world.
Why this administration refused to use them is unknown and we will probably never know.
Trump probably refused because he preferred to dismiss the virus as a credible emergency or because of his massive ego, or as is most probable, a combination of both.
Had we done so and as methodically as Korea has done, we would not be in this situation.
As per news reports Russia, which had less than 50 cases around Wednesday, decided on that same day to build a new hospital like the Chinese did , and construction has already started.
Meanwhile in this country, apart from tax cuts, Trump and the Republicans cannot think of anything else on their own .
11
Cuomo and de Blasio are repeating Trump's mistakes. There's no one to save New Yorkers.
3
@Imagine
Clever enough to make it Trump's problem, though, which NYT readers will applaud.
2
Governor Cuomo, I think the evidence is in that the federal government is following and not leading. Please be a strong leader and close New York City's public schools. Students and staff can not follow CDC guidelines of social distancing and continual hand washing. In fact, NYC public school classrooms don't even have hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, let alone sinks, soap and paper towels, and the ability to put desks 6 feet apart.
Eileen Cunningham
13
@EMC oh the humanity!!
Relax, it's a hoax.
Why most older people do not panic - this is not the first epidemic/ pandemic - in addition to the much referenced Spanish flu - polio, H2N2, and the Hong Kong flu. Follow official guidelines not internet fabrications. The social
media addicted treat celebrities and on line bloggers as their sources. The mass panic at stores is ridiculous- there is CB no social distancing. Simple soap kills the virus and sunlight. It’s spring break - give the kids an extra week. And share your hoard with the elderly and home bound.
6
@Barbara
Sorry, hand washing isn't enough. People are buying large amounts of supplies for families that will have to stay home for 2-3 months. And if I were these families I would probably panic because we have a government that is currently at the bottom of the list in being prepared.
There are lots of folks who are being generous with time, money and kindness to those who are in need. Some people hoard but let's put the blame squarely on the shoulders of our president.
So, even if many people have gotten through the pandemics and epidemics of the past, why sacrifice large
numbers of humans at this point in time? Our health providers, teachers, governors and thousands of others are working long hours to save as many as possible,
so let's not focus on hoarders.
6
@GreenSpirit
Don't worry, Trump will stop by and throw rolls of toilet paper at us!!!
1
I’m all in favor of aggressive action to address the spread; however, Governor, I find it baffling that NYC schools continue to remain open. Yes, we know there are negative consequences from closures. Address those without irresponsibly keeping schools open. This is the antithesis of social distancing. 1,000 kids eating lunch at some high schools doesn’t strike me as a good idea.
22
Nope! Got my stache in early, and we are looking for more stuff in order to keep our supply topped off until the All-Clear flags go up! ...Dated stuff will eventually go to the local food bank...(Joe 6 Pk.)
1
Governor Cuomo - I think the state is best to act on its own. You get together with the people in the medical supplies business and set up factories immediately - immediately - to produce the needed medical equipment - gowns, masks, etc. Maybe do a partnership with a company like 3M or bring over some Taiwanese companies that make this kind of thing. Basically do what must be done to get the job done. We can do the manufacturing right here in New York. And work with the real estate industry to convert buildings into medical facilities. And maybe set up facilities outside NYC to house hospital patients. But I would not rely too much on the Federal Government. They seem incompetent and untrustworthy.
13
It seems that a lot of people in positions of power are acting like they need permission from higher-ups to do what is right for their people, their organization, when it is already within their power to take action.
We not only need to stop doing certain risky things now, we need to start doing constructive things and retooling everything to meet the new needs and demands this is placing on us.
It’s at times like this you see who just has a leadership title and who is an actual leader.
15
@Joe P.
You'd be surprised how much red tape has been cut thus far just to get where we are. It's actually the untold story. Emergency authorizations have been required just to get tests manufactured and tested results done outside the FDA and CDC.
Even an emergency declaration was necessary to cut through more red tape, allowing, for example, telemedicine to be used to combat the virus.
We have a very good system, but it is not set up for a massive and speedy response. It's thorough and slow. It's taken a tremendous effort just to get around our government's roadblocks.
4
@AACNY The capacity to "get around red tape" with an Emergency declaration has existed since day 1 of the crisis. The problem was the resistance to declaring one until March 13 (how ironic, Friday the 13th). The existing regulatory safeguards should remain in place after this crisis passes to be waived, as has been done now belatedly, only when an emergency arises. In a different, stable environment, they have done much to protect us over the years.
2
@mjs79
On February 2, 2020, Trump issued the first emergency authorization to remove testing from the FDA's complete control.
The idea that it should have taken place "sooner" is seriously misguided. It's based on ignorance because most have no idea what steps have actually been taken.
They won't read about problems with centralization of testing that occurred under Obama at the FDA.
4
These are excellent suggestions, but asking Trump to act as a forceful leader especially to help a "blue state" is, as we've seen, will only to be viewed through his narcissist's world-view as political criticism. It might be better to convene a meeting of the National Governors Association of which Gov. Cuomo is Vice Chair to agree on a uniform policy on school and business closings and mobilizing the state national guards to assist hospitals in adding beds.
44
@Paul Wortman Excellent suggestions about getting the governors of all the states to agree on a uniform policy about using the National Guards in each state.....
2
I think the solution is simple. Full lockdown for 14 days (incubation period). Nobody leaves home. Give everyone a 48 hour heads up to purchase whatever they need. Have govt send food to shelters to provide for the homeless. Nobody is going to “starve”, it’s only 14 days. You can theoretically survive on water.
Employers are required to still pay employees for those 14 days. If anyone develops symptoms, then we treat and quarantine them. If you haven’t developed symptoms (even mild ones) in 14 days, you likely do not have it.
Have 1 pharmacy in each neighborhood remain open (in case of emergencies), and have the army run it for those 14 days. They’ll have protective gear on, etc.
11
@LC It's not worth it. It will kill more people than the virus does, not to mention the same type (old people). The virus isn't that deadly in the grand scheme, so it's important not to make ther remedy worse than the disease.
1
@LC Asking everyone to buy 14 days worth of groceries in 48 hours is going to lead to massive chaos.
9
@LC /realize that there is growing scientific support in the literature for the idea that instead of being transmittable by non-symptomatic carriers here and there (which we can confirm), it might be one of the significant vectors Covid-19 is spreading.
This would mean, *only* IF confirmed, that the spread has already likely happened already and we will simply have to ride this out.
.
1
Not sure I would want to federalize shutdowns, although I understand the Governor's reasoning. On March 13, POTUS 45 said the National Emergency Declaration gave his administration "power," "lots of power." I fear adding more power to the portfolio of an executive who not too long ago called COVID19 a Democrat hoax, and who quite recently, on camera, asked Dr. Fauci (I believe) if a flu vaccine could help, and receiving a negative response, asked if a "solid" flu vaccine could help. The current executive's propensity for name-calling, finger pointing, denial and rejoicing in power does not inspire any trust or confidence in this moderate, life-long New York resident. I hope we're all paying close attention to everything that is said by everyone.
177
I don't understand why Cuomo is waiting for Trump to realize the magnitude of the problem and act. As gov, Cuomo should order his NY companies to get started and use whatever power he has to indemnify & fund them.
If we use the "options market" to measure the fear factor in the US, fear is literally off the chart to the extreme primarily because we don't know the magnitude of the problem due to lack of testing.
While I pray it doesn't come to this, when mass infection occurs due to lack of test kits, Trump supporters who remain oblivious to something so obvious, Trump is incompetent, will finally see the light. Unfortunately, many of us won't be able to see that light from our graves.
9
Governor, I have to disagree. This is (another) step toward a military dictatorship. Trump will deploy the military for this crisis and then keep it in place to stop the November elections. We have already seen the soldiers in Trump's admin (Kelly, McMasters, etc) obey illegal orders.
15
@JM
And how much of the 60 billion emergency funding will be diverted to building The Wall?
BTW, Germany has freed up about 600 billion to protect its economy. The US is, again, woefully behind. I love stable genius.
1
Governor Cuomo,
I’m an architect in Brooklyn and have travelled much of NY state and surrounding states. There are scads of empty buildings in the area, like former hospitals, mental institutions, large factories, plants, and warehouses.
You should put a team together to visit them with architects, engineers, doctors and scientists, and analyze all of those best suited for rapid renovation to make them useful for hospital beds, storage of medical supplies, testing facilities, and the like.
The decline of manufacturing has led to vast, open warehouses that are ripe for rapid repurposing. Now is the time to take advantage of them. This can also be a boon to future reuse once this crisis has passed, which can reinvigorate those communities that were affected but the shutting of those plants, factories and warehouses, but can’t afford to rehab them with local money.
628
@Dan Kaplan Your observation hit the mark! Having recently retired as a NP from an acute care hospital, I do know that there are definitely not enough hospital beds available. Where I used to work, prior to my retiremen, we had intermittent shortages of hospital beds. Patients were lying in the hallway of the emergency room because ICU and Intermediate Care unit beds were unavailable. Physicians came to the units asking NPs and PAs if there were any patients that could be transferred to regular hospital beds while rounding in General Care units asking nurse managers if they had any patients that could be discharged.
It is very obvious that things will get worse in a hurry and unfortunately we are ill prepared to handle this dire emergency that is upon us.
29
@Dan Kaplan An excellent plan nation-wide.
10
@Dan Kaplan My goodness- are you suggesting a useful infrastructure investment plan? Thanks
33
So if the military is deployed by President Trump and things don’t go that good, is Governor Cuomo take any accountability?
I do agree with the Governor on utilizing the aspects of the military since there are more military personnel who support the logistics of military deployments.
5
I was born and raised in New York City and suburbs. I hope the people of New York State realize how fortunate they are to have a governor who, unlike the incompetent administration in Washington, DC, is capable, intelligent, and up to the task of dealing with a critical situation. I wish I could say the same about my adopted State.
19
@Connecticut Yankee Trumbull, agreed. This is were latex meets the road. I think we’ll all find out in the end, those competent enough to move on to higher office, in the future, if it is their desire.
6
Dear Governor:
The people of New York elected you to Lead and protect all New Yorker's.
We cannot wait for help from this administration as all 50 governors are asking for help and giving advice on how their state needs assistance.
As it is up to each individual head of household to protect and lead their families to safety and security, it is now your mission to act in the best interest of all of New York.
Yes we must welcome NJ, CT, PA,VT, MA and All states that wish to join the NY initiative and work together for the goal of creating a green zone of action, confidence, and determination to do what it takes.
Time to lead sir.
14
@Juker I have listened to various blue states governors' pressers on this crisis. I am impressed with their empathy, grasp of the potential severity of this problem, their suggestions for proactive steps, and lack of operational federal support. Hopefully with the National Emergency declaration this will improve. Agree with your suggestion that the governors who have an existing national association band together to collectively advance the greater good is needed rather than wait for competent federal executive action. Individually, they are clearly doing much of what needs to be done.
8
The US government knew that such a pandemic might come to our country for years now and there is/was no plan in place to deal with this. Further, there is no universal health system to combat a population-wide pandemic. All we are left with are improvised, desperate measures, that may or may not work.
4
@voxandreas
The idea that pandemic planning would have prevented this chaos is questionable -- particularly, with respect to speed -- given all the Executive authorizations required to work around the controls and regulations.
Would it have created just another layer of regulations to work around? What we've learned is that preparation cannot include layering more rules and regulations on a problem.
2
Apparently preparation can’t include having a guy on the NSC staff, and the people, and the resources, and the clout, who specifically runs our planning and responses either.
Bolton—then Trump’s fair-mustached boy—drove him out. And his staff. And junked the planning.
Heckuva job, Brownie.
I am very glad that Governor Cuomo is the Governor of my State . Obviously we are headed for a shutdown, for at least two weeks. The sensible thing is to close everything that is non essential, people should not be locked into their homes but should practice social distances , close all bars, restaurants, movie theatre’s, people with non-essential jobs stay home , nobody on the subway but essential employees, shopping is the one area that stays open but under no circumstances can someone with a fever enter, for all the big box stores a public health official should be out front taking temperature. Put a no hoarding rule into effect , you can only buy one of each thing. After 2 weeks let’s see where we are. We keep moving towards a point where tomorrow is worse than today we have to begin to reverse that.
10
Are you really sure you want a would-be autocrat to deploy the Army domestically, even if it is only the Corp of Engineers?
9
Eloquently simply stated needs embraces the entire country.
Mobilization echoing what was done after Katrina and the executive administration then realizing their faulty first steps.
Mobilizing the military and exercising the eminent domain of human health seems better realized by the governor of New York than the businessman in the white house.
10
In 2018, the US was short some 6000 ICU doctors and around 15000 ventilator competent ICU nurses... the last time I checked, this gap wasn’t getting any smaller. Expand ICU physical capacity all you want, but this will be pointless unless there is an expansion in the critical care workforce.
21
The Army may be better at blowing things up as Mr. Ouellette noted. But they do have portable field hospitals. Isn’t it possible the Army could deploy them to parking lots or city parks?
16
@JR They could deploy them to the area around hospitals. This would allow for the field personnel to work closely with the hospitals.
1
What is the rationale for Cuomo bringing in the military when research is starting to show that children can be carriers without showing symptoms? Closing the schools for a couple of weeks just might save a few lives. Finally, what's the point of bringing economic cost and hardships into the discussion when this situation is still evolving. We are all in this together and should support not criticize our government.
4
@MTOP Criticism is warranted. The federal government needs direction. There have been so many missteps, mostly by the White House, which does not believe in "expert" opinions only its own. And Congress has done nothing in the last few years but cut the CDC's budget. The President should let the people with expertise lead. As the saying goes, "No one can start over and make a new beginning. But anyone can start today and make a new ending."
9
@MTOP We closed all schools in my country last week, we have been hurt pretty bad though (Norway). All bars are closed as well in the capital, and alot of strict rules have been put in place. It needs to be done in my opionion. Financially we will suffer for a while but it will help containt this world-problem.
4
I just want to say your comment, although short & simple, is right on point & very well written. Very few words and yet you spoke volumes.
2
All of a sudden everybody wants socialism and a movement to care for each other. Not Me, Us.
I just wished we had a candidate running on that platform with a 40 year track record.
29
What if Donald Trump has a plan most people don't have the capacity to conceptualize? The Donald Trump book club this week reviewed James Joyce's "Finnegans Wake", The President called the book an easy read that describes his thought process) Regardless, I've been impressed by Governor Cuomo's leadership during this crisis and how effective and succinct this op-ed is written, (2024 voters take notice) Meanwhile, why does it seem Donald Trump continues to implement strategies akin to a car salesman from the Oval Office? When selling new cars, it’s in a car dealer’s best interest to keep list prices high, because ultimately, they’ll earn more money, and when you negotiate down, you’ll still think you’re getting a good deal. Or maybe I’m not optimistic enough? Should ”It won’t happen to me” be my mantra during this pandemic? Individuals are naturally biased to thinking that they are less at risk of something bad happening to them compared to others. Smokers believe they are less likely to develop lung cancer than other smokers, traders believe they are less likely to lose money than their peers, and everyday people believe they are less at risk of being victimized in a crime. This also factors into matters of health, prompting individuals to neglect healthy behaviors like exercise, regular visits to the doctor, going on second dates with me and condom use.
1
@José Franco DT Book club!? That's hilarious. Such irony.
@AM Yeah, they should have reviewd "Ulysses."
1
Governor, can't find a profit motivation in your memo to the president. Good ideas all but we live in the new feudalism. Profit first; people second.
10
Governor Cuomo has shown himself to be a strong leader in this chaotic time. If only we had such a leader in the White House.
25
Dear God, please don't.
The last thing we want to do is give Trump an excuse to mobilize the military domestically. If there ever were a way to make a deadly pandemic worse, this is it. What a remarkably bad idea.
11
Not many US news outlets reporting that the German government is using national security laws to block Trump's secret acquisition of CureVac, a German company that's very advanced with Coronavirus vaccines.
Under the terms of (now suspended) Trump deal, CureVac's technology would be for exclusively American use.
This doesn't look good from any angle, frankly.
9
It’s great all the real leaders keep speaking out and recommending solutions to this inept and incompetent administration they desperately need it and so does America. Pence and the task force implemented some of Biden’s proposals the next day, let Trump claim credit who cares. Everyone knows he’s sitting around tweeting and carrying on as normal, chaos rules the day.
5
Trump probably felt slighted by some insignificant thing done by Mario Cuomo years ago, so forget about this.
9
An effective executive must do two things to succeed. One, set goals and expectations. Two, find the best qualified people to accomplish that goal, and give them the people and resources they need. Trump fails on both.
Anyone who supports this President in the next election has blood on their hands. This is no longer about taxes, deficits and foreign influence. It is about life/death of your fellow Americans. No one can look aside and ignore this President's total incompetence.
28
@Riveral
Those are THREE prerequisites for executive success: goals, people, and resources. There I fixed it.
1
It may boil down to using troops to monitor and move things along. Asking the feds may work, despite Trump's bumbling chaotic administration. Using the military will burnish Trump's image since he likes to brag about "his troops," so this strategy could work in Cuomo's favor.
1
@Birdygirl
And could work in Trump's favor.
1
Governor, here's something you and the state legislature can do to immediately slow the spread of the virus: enact a state law mandating at least 2 weeks paid sick leave for every employee in the state. Even if this is done on a temporary basis of 12 to 18 months, it would significantly slow spread of the disease.
Many of us can work at home and practice social distancing to slow the epidemic. But sooner or later we will have to buy food and other supplies. All that isolation will do no good if I catch the disease from a store employee who could not afford to stay home despite being sick.
I simply do not understand why New York state has not taken this simple but important step.
8
Here's my two cents...close the NYC public schools and reorganize them as food distribution and public health information sites. Figure out a way to distribute food to needy NY'ers who may not be able to purchase food for themselves. Use the schools as community resource sites. The infrastructure is there.
Use the power(s) of the federal, state and city government to require local television stations to broadcast educational instruction during the hours of 8am to 3pm. Have each channel coordinate delivery...PBS for preK, CBS for elementary, NBC secondary, etc. The airwaves belong to the public, or that's what "they say". Let's see some serious committment by the TV stations to provide a quality educational experience for the 1 million displaced students of our great city. Leadership, organization, this thing can be beat back. My two cents...
24
@jimmboy The only thing you left out is the premiere of your talk show on WPIX which I'm willing to watch. Unfortunately, you'll have a tough time getting sponsors since many viewers will be pulling back spending and be out of a job.
2
Superbly written!! This is, in fact, the most logical & sensible suggestion that I’ve read thus far on this entire thread.
1
It’s like we should have had a... plan for this already or something.
2
There does need to be a national response and it needs to start with citizens themselves. Just stay home. Period. It's that simple. We all need to self-isolate to slow down the spread. Going to bars, restaurants and out for brunch needs to stop.
16
Very valid point & wise advice. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said.
3
Going to need more beds. If this country doesn't already have an emergency management plan, that takes over and makes use of hotels, motels, university dorms, etc., then we are toast.
2
@Joe B
Most of those plans are local or regional. My father was an administrator at a large hospital on the Gulf Coast. They would conduct drills, including triage, for mass casualty events in cooperation with the commander of a local military base. Usually with a hurricane in mind, but also terrorism or pandemic.
5
Where have you been? It’s been stated over and over that Trump dismantled a plan set in place by the prior administration and never replaced it with anything. This administration was also denying the urgency and seriousness of this virus as recent as last week when trump told everyone it’ll go away.
1
I support Cuomo on this 100%.
Also, I ask Governor Cuomo and Mayor De Blasio to plug another gaping hole in the "don't touch shared surfaces unless disinfected right before" rule: Credit card terminals in many stores, including pharmacies.
Many still require a signature, either with an attached stylus or one's finger to complete a purchase. Also, some screens won't accept a gloved finger for input - period. So, please issue an emergency order that stores either waive the signature requirement, or make it mandatory to stores that won't to provide means to disinfect the stylus, touch screen and ones fingers before and after use. A stylus or screen used by a single carrier can potentially infect hundreds of subsequent users. It's hygiene 101.
30
@Pete in Downtown Absolutely and let's repeal the no plastic bag rule. Reusing bags increases the possibility of viral spread as well
2
Great suggestion!!!!
1
@Pete in Downtown
How about the high tech idea of supplying Lysol wipes for people who sign with styluses. Like grocery stores have supplied for years to wipe cart handles. OMG, what a concept. It's common sense 101. We don't need a NASA level solution here.
3
Andrew,
Entirely with you and encourage the President and his experts to be with you on making full use of labs. The most useful testing, and slowing the spread cannot occur if the tests are not processed.
Also agree on Federal aid regarding closures, based on need.
The third issue is difficult. As you state, we are severely under equipped in terms of hospitals, and available beds.
Two issues are of concern:
-The Army Corps Of Engineers may be able to mobilize bases and dorms into available beds, but this also requires qualified staffing;
-Of greater concern is placing this degree of transformative military power in the hands of some one who has demonstrated significant autocratic tendencies, and a willingness to utilize the military to support projects aimed at increasing his political power.
This seems too great a temptation for Trump—a temptation that would be enhanced by many of his most fervent supporters in Congress.
4
A close relative was a LTC in the Chemical Corps of the US Army. He has served our country for 35 years until 2019. His corp's specialty is mass decontamination of large areas and people in the event of a biological attack. The Chemical Corp has the knowledge, staff, equipment, etc to decontaminate large public areas quickly and efficiently. They also have great expertise in quarantine.
For several weeks, we have been wondering when someone was going to mention this highly-trained branch of our Army. I think my relative tweeted the president about this. The use of the Chemical Corps has probably been suggested the Impeached Stable Genius by high-ranking Army and/or other armed forces officers. But since he thinks he knows more than anyone else, he ignored them and continues to believe that throwing money at the markets and corporations will send COVID-19 running for the hills.
God save us. Please stay healthy and limit your interactions with others.
42
On this general topic, one must avoid listening to the ax grinders on the extreme left or right.
While one should listen to the health experts, they are not perfect either.
Two questions I have for them is since this new virus is similar to SARS or MERS or for that matter the seasonal flu why are we only taking extreme measures for this one and not the others?
Also what steps do a majority of experts agree upon. They can be all over the place too.
3
@Paul this one is highly contagious and people can infect before they have symptoms. At a Biogen conference in Boston, 90 of 175 attendees tested positive. 20% of positive cases require hospitalization and 5% of those require ICU for extended periods. Do the math to understand why this virus will swallow most of 2020. This will be a medical resource crisis.
9
@Paul
I had the same question. This article helped me understand.
---
Top officials at the WHO this week have sought to differentiate the spreading novel coronavirus from influenza, with the underlying message that while seasonal flu cannot be stopped, countries still have the chance to limit cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new virus.
“This virus is not SARS, it’s not MERS, and it’s not influenza,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing Tuesday, referencing other coronaviruses that have caused smaller outbreaks. “It is a unique virus with unique characteristics.”
By making a distinction between the viruses, Tedros has sought to rally global action against the new microbe. He and other WHO officials urged governments confronting the coronavirus to implement the public health measures that have been shown to reduce viral spread, such as isolating infected people, following those who come in contact with cases to see whether they develop illness, and suspending activities that bring together lots of people.
“We don’t even talk about containment for seasonal flu — it’s just not possible,” Tedros said. “But it is possible for Covid-19. We don’t do contact-tracing for seasonal flu — but countries should do it for Covid-19, because it will prevent infections and save lives. Containment is possible.”
https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/03/who-coronavirus-different-than-influenza-can-be-contained/
3
@LisaW What about MERS and SARS and other flu strains? I heard the same thing re them and we did not do nearly the same thing.
Again, all I am saying is have the "pros" show the proof, educate the public and let them have their say.
3
As a native New Yorker, but independent voter, I've always thought highly of Governor Cuomo. He showed clear and decisive leadership during superstorm Sandy. The same now--only the military can execute the tasks that are desperately needed now. Trump acted a week late to declare a national emergency, and he'll act late again while more people suffer. We need to unleash federal entities in all phases, so that more time is allowed for scientists to understand more of this highly contagious-unlike HIV-virus in order to disable it. Thank you Governor Cuomo for putting our lives before politics.
19
Hey Gov. You have a national guard and a state with tremendous talent a resources. Get to work instead of sending public letters to the Pres. During WWII, the people helped the gov get ready, now we ask the gov to help us. People need to stop relying so much on gov and help themselves. Gov is too big and slow to response effectively for most of our population. We are the greatest people on the planet where we come together. We will pass this storm. Believe in the American Spirit. I realize this current generation of young people were not taught and do not believe about our great spirit and what our county has and can accomplish when we come together. Rise up America, she needs all of us right now.
5
Um the national government is the one who had to lead us when there is a pandemic. Y’all take this. “ help yourself” thing way too far. Fine, tax me less federally if you want me to deal with it myself.
Rubbish, like for real? Let’s not turn to the president or D.C. for this?
Wow.
@Chris
Exactly.
2
Anybody thinking about what we'll do with COVID-20? Will the world economy shut down for two months each year? I don't see how this becomes the new normal.
3
@RonRich The money economy you speak of needs to fail and be replaced by people doing the right thing BECAUSE it is the right thing to do.
Unfortunately, Trumps past caution to limit travel from Asia was criticized as an overreaction and unnecessary by many Democrats including Joe Biden. Schumer even promised to introduce a bill in the Senate to overturn Trump’s limits on travel. Maybe Trump was not cautious enough. But I don’t think that many Democrats would have supported even tougher measures to restrict the spread of the virus by travelers.
8
@Rock Winchester The US was the 13th country to ban china traffic. This was good, but now exactly original.
7
@Stewart did or did not Democrat’s criticize Trump for the ban?
1
I guess that Schumer and Biden thought that all of the other countries were also overreacting and that Trump was also too cautious.
1
Critics writing here complain the Governor is requesting of the Federal Government actions he could take on his own, like closing schools and bars state wide.
But without the cooperation of mayors and local governments, the Governor is merely moving air and not bodies. Hence the request for Federal intervention.
But how much power would a President need to enforce such an edict? Do we really want to totally give up our Freedom of Assembly, and give it up to this President?
8
This is not just a state or national crisis. This is an international problem that must be coordinated primarily among world leaders and their communities. What we may do, therefore, is to begin by creating an exchange of resources between nations like the United States (just beginning to face the coronavirus pandemic) and nations like China, a country with a colossal workforce capable of assisting builders and medical personnel to improvise hospitals and bring in doctors and nurses to Europe, the United States, and places about to confront what seems to be an inevitable event.
8
@Edgardo Diaz Diaz Credit where is credit is, Dude. The Chinese Government is providing masks and equipment at low or no cost to Italy, and support personnel as well.
9
The governor makes very reasonable and needed suggestions on the medical and testing side of the situation.
However, any domestic deployment of the military smacks of martial law and will only heighten citizens' anxiety and their mistrust of government.
8
@Charles
Understood. But the choice is becoming stark: worry about appearances or die. Sorry, but I'll take my chances with the Army Corps. It is, after all, staffed by our daughters and sons.
14
@Leaf Schumann Careful as you give up your rights for security. I don;t see the need as of yet and the need will be localized to states. Let the governors decide.
6
@Charles Only if you're on the crazy side of the fence already, Chuck. Normal people will not be afraid of military involvement, but Faux Noose views will freak out (even though many are veterans (which goes to show you how deep their crazy goes)).
Don't count on it soon. The Army Corp. of Engineers was supposed to be dredging to replenish the beach at Fire Island, but Trump pulled them off that job to replenish the beach near his Mar-A-Lago resort.
18
Sorry - that was too long for Trump to read. Let's hope that someone close to him passes him the very solid recommendations. Apparently America is not First... by any measure when it comes to Corona-19...
10
Governor Cuomo’s suggestion would be a fine idea of the current occupant of the White House was different. Trump simply can’t be trusted to execute a policy involving our military. No matter what the stated purpose of the usage might be, Trump would pervert it for his own gain and lie about it later, and probably accuse a political enemy of whatever illicit behavior he committed.
7
@Adam Trump will instruct them to also screen illegal immigrants thus making sure that people who should be screened just continue to infect the population.
Already we have that problem since illegals will not come to a hospital. They will get sick and just hide out spreading the pandemic.
Cases are ramping up in my New York hospital - I am seeing cases daily now - and we know the overwhelming surge is coming. The virus is everywhere.
Americans are going to die because the administration is a mess and months behind.
Whoever has any guts in this administration needs to persuade the President to work to save as many American lives as still possible, and to get the testing started TODAY, for everyone.
If it has to be put to the President in terms of improved re-election odds, that’s fine. We need to take care of each other. Now is not the time to indulge the President’s pathologies.
20
He does not want the true numbers of those infected getting out. Just like Trump was supposed tested for the coronavirus and it came up negative. Nobody believes he was tested or that if he was he his administrative doctor is telling the truth. Lie, Lies, Lies for almost 4 years. The, "Art of the Deal" is falling apart. "All hands prepare to abandon the ship". One thing is for sure, Trump and his cohorts & family will get the BEST MEDICAL TREATMENT there is in the USA. Thank God for Administrative socialized medicine.
9
I actually believe he was tested. Just don’t believe what they said about the tests. If he got it, it would undermine all that he has been saying all along. This way, he looks invincible and becomes the super hero, god like being that his followers believe he is.
1
@Michael : Trump is 73 -- if he has coronavirus, he is at high risk -- far more so than a younger person.
Why would Trump WANT to have coronavirus? If he was really sick from it….wouldn't it be obvious? wouldn't he be coughing and weak and feverish? does he LOOK sick?
Trump gets medical care as a Federal Employee, as do his dependents. I am sure his ADULT CHILDREN have private insurance coverage. They would not be covered under their father's health plan.
1
ask Jared to ask his brother's wife's father what he thinks. Sarcasm aside. The testing fiasco is an inexplicable scandal. This is 100% the Trump administration caused problem. We have the machines, we have the skills. Just need the approvals (like 4 weeks ago).
12
@A J : actually….we don't. And it doesn't matter WHO is President.
We don't have the test kits. We don't have the man power. We don't have the hospital space.
And no other nation does either -- no matter if they have Single Payer or socialist systems.
No society can cope with a pandemic. It isn't possible.
1
Time is short. We are at war against the coronavirus. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The time is now to all get on the same page.
As the great prophet Jerry Springer said best, "take care of yourself, and each other."
2
FYI:
States have control over their respective National Guard units which chiefly are combat arms, not medical assets. Under the control of Governors.
Medical assets are found in the Army Reserves, and are under the control of the President. The President can activate or federalize individual States National Guard units. They would have Combat Engineers assigned and could clear land, build roads, and berms for perimeter, but the U.S. Army Reserves medical units actually erect the combat support hospitals with assigned personnel - nurses, doctors, respiratory therapist, OR techs, LPN’s, and dentists. In my combat support hospital, the older dentists were the best forklift drivers.
In the Navy, the engineers (SeaBees), actually erected the hospitals for the medics. But not in the Army where the medical personnel erect the hospital. However, the young strapping muscular straight-pants 18 year 91B infantrymen from the National Guard would always love being reassigned temporary duty by their a First Sergeants to go help out the First and Second Lieutenant Nurses build their hospital. Since they were Privates or PFC’s and the nurses were officers, there was always a lot of “yes ma’am”, “right away ma’am” dialogues happening. Get’er done they did!
I agree with the Governor’s message to the a President in his letter here. And I agree that it’s high time to - get’er done!
8
Unfortunately the man in the Oval Office doesn't read anything longer than a couple of paragraphs, and it is highly doubtful that he'll accept the plan of Mr. Cuomo, a man he probably considers as being a deep stater.
During one of the worst medical emergency since the Spanish Flue, this country is led by a man who considers not only science but truth as his personal Nemesis.
6
Will Trump acknowledge the smartness of this and act on such ideas? Or will he rail at Cuomo on Twitter? We all know the answer.
5
Will trump ignore this great idea because it came from Cuomo?
6
What a clear thinking, rational problem solving, attack-the issues-approach he has outlined. This is what leadership in a crisis looks like. Rally the resources and build around a plan to combat the most pressing needs.
It’s shameful our President and his cronies are clueless and we must rely on an adhoc uncoordinated response led by a whole host of players, governors, mayors, corporate execs, and the like to fill the embarrassing void from the top.
10
Let’s not wait for Trump to become a caring ethical person
Let’s get the WHO test now
and start actually screening passengers at airports
and stop telling people to stock up —it s creating persistent crazy crowded conditions at grocery stores
and at least get hand sanitizers and disinfectant products to people in the highest risk groups
We need some consistency & organization
Not coming from anywhere including CDC
But first and foremost let’s get those WHO tests so we can start testing en masse tomorrow
3
Trump will continue to dismiss and ignore any and all science-based information, (or reality for that matter) and will just go with his gut, and remain the “only I can fix it” president. It appears this administration's top priority is still to stroke Trump's ego and nod on cue as he rambles on about the stock market.
At least people like Governor Cuomo are beginning to create a paper trail (and putting it out to the public to see) with a clear set of priorities and action needed from the federal government. What action will be taken remains to be seen.
2
America is testing at such a slow rate that it is essentially not testing for the coronavirus which prevents the reality and facts of the coronavirus from being known.
It's incompetence, malpractice and irresponsibility at the highest levels of government run by a 'very stable genius'.
Every other rich country is testing at a much higher rate.
You cannot fight and solve a problem if you don't identify it first.
America once again stands out as one of the slowest kids in the class that can't understand basic academics.
Time for America's governors to take charge from the inept, incompetent and clueless Trump-Pence-Tax-Cut Administration.
130
Since there are millions of people who may not be financially well to sustain the economic stresses our nation and the world will face in the next several months, eliminating the payroll taxes will ease the impact and provide people in lower income brackets more disposable income.
So those people who are opposing this policy proposal are showing their true colors about helping people.
Enough already about your disdain for President Trump since it serves no productive purpose at a time of crisis.
1
@MDCooks8
All a cut in payroll taxes accomplishes is the undermining of Medicare and Social Security finances that tens of millions count on to survive.
And all the 2017-Trump-GOP 0.1% Tax Cut accomplished was the undermining of the United States Treasury and the cutting of critical government services like the White House pandemic expert response team that Trump eliminated in 2018 so the rich could get richer.
Tax cuts are NOT the solution to anything except in Republican fraudonomics textbooks.
If you want to help poor and nonrich people, raise taxes, send them checks paid for by reversing the Trump-GOP's 0.1% Welfare Queen program.
People supporting this reckless payroll-tax-cut policy proposal are showing their true economic and history ignorance about Republican public policy and its destructive effects on society.
Buy an economics and history textbook.
20
@Socrates
Well Congress has the power to keep payments flowing to the recipients of Social Security and Medicare so let's see how they respond.
But people working can use this money of a temporary federal income tax freeze.
Now is not the time for politics.
1
Thank you, Gov. Cuomo. It is going to take all of us to get this effort off the ground and it's pathetic that our president has to be begged for basic decency and intelligence. At this point, I'm with you - whatever it takes (although I'm certain Trump won't get any smarter)!
2
"In short: Localize testing, federalize shutdowns and task the Army Corps of Engineers to expand hospital capacity."
With any other president this would make good policy sense with a crisis of this magnitude. But the Trump administration is so polluted from top to bottom that ALL institutions that the president controls are politicized and have no credibility.
A good example of this is Anthony Fauci. All over tv this morning he sounded like a corrupt propagandist for Trump and not the objective authority he's supposed to be.
Any massive federal military response would undoubtedly be led by Trump propagandists with zero credibility.
People may be better off with states and localities doing what needs to be done for protection rather than getting slammed with more massive Trump incompetence.
3
So, Trump says his test his negative....how many lies has this man told us? It was all so pat, so quick, so unexpected (sure, I”ll test, I mean if the journalists want me too! even though three seconds ago I said no way!). I for one don’t believe anything he says, nothing, and would never ever shake that hand.
12
Most think of Turkey as a backward country. Today, they have 5 coronavirus cases and 100,000 beds ready when they need them for the virus. The WHO has heaped praise upon them for how prepared they are for what might happen. The US can't even do testing, let alone have a plan for when the infections inevitably arrive.
So, who is the backward country?
17
I honestly don’t like the idea of involving a military (their are some young adults living on their own at their apartments and you really don’t want any militant to be abusing/rapping them). The country should just stop running for a month! Close all businesses, schools... let us stay indoors in our homes and take a moment to breath and think. Those that are sick should be sent to a facility (if their people are honest to recognize the issue and let them go). But, the only way to avoid spreading this is to stay indoors. The street should be deserted! Test kits should be sent by helicopters when there will be enough to be distributed to everyone.
I am seeing parents posted everywhere that they need a childcare provider (babysitter, nanny), which is very lame because they are home to avoid being exposed to this virus and yet, they want others to put their life at risk by going to work for them? Very selfish and inconsiderate! Some (parents from Urbansitter and Care) have even posted that they have been in contact with those that have been tested positive and still seeking caregivers. Nobody in their right mind should go there to work. However, some people are still desperate for $$$ that they will not care about their health. The world should just stop for a while and then, we will be able to see some improvements just like in China! Thank you!
This is an admirably short and sensible list. It is likely to be tossed out of the window right away because it comes from the NY Governor. Republicans, as we all know, have the monopoly on good ideas.
What is unfolding here is an avoidable tragedy of immense proportions. Countries with far less resources and scientific capability are dealing with Covid19 much better. But Trump sees everything, even the life and death of American citizens, through the prism of his re-election prospects.
The pathetic group that surrounds him cannot speak truth to power - they would be fired if they did. So they genuflect every time they are in front of a TV camera and praise the Dear Leader to the high heavens.
5
How long would it take the Corps of Engineers to put up let’s say ten 1000 bed MASH style hospitals around the country where COVID-19 is most severe?
5
@Oxfdblue
probably about 4 - 6 hours
but that's too sensible
1
So we need to mobilize the military, but it’s ok to let kids go to school, when even under normal circumstances, is a bastion of germs and bacteria?
Quite the needle to thread, isn’t it?
How many kids on any given day touch their face, wipe their nose or mouth, then touch their desks, doorknobs, handrails and God knows what else?
Are teachers and staff wiping down every surface after every class?
Hardly.
So if it’s ok to allow millions of kids to go to school everyday, maybe mobilizing the military isn’t really necessary. And attacking the President for not doing so is just another reason to take advantage of hysteria and make him look bad.
Never let a good crisis go to waste, right?
1
But meanwhile Most schools in the greater NYC area and suburbs are closed except for the most densely populated school system being the NYC public schools!
How insane is that?
3
This is what leadership looks like.
8
How rich that the individuals that were terrified of martial law under Trump are now asking for it.
2
@Llamafeeder
No one suggested martial law. Re-read the article to see what was actually proposed.
1
All this was laid out after analysis of the Ebola crisis. But Trump got rid of the Pandemic Response Team, whose purpose was to monitor and coordinate on a national level, including with the military. Essentially, the exact thing Cuomo is asking for.
The PRT was started by Obama, so of course he had to get rid of it. Trump's pride is all he cares about.
It's all fun and games till we need a real leader.
19
Trump is increasingly demonstrating his intellectual myopia and his egomaniacal limitations as a leader. One can only hope, and yes, pray, that someone whom he trusts can take the text of Andrew Cuomo's suggestions and transmit it into some form that this president will accept and immediately implement.
1
You wrote a letter to someone who doesn’t read, and gave advice to someone who doesn’t heed advice.
Good ideas and a nice try, though.
9
Cuomo running for President would turn Texas blue. I want him in 2020.
2
@Victor Reyes
You can have him. But, sorry, he won't be available until 2024 at the earliest, unless he has outlived his shelf life by then. In the mean time, though, you can move here and enjoy him in real time (I hesitate to say in real life). After a while, you'll make a beeline back to Texas, and rue your wish.
1
Cuomo, just find the guts to make your own decisions. There is nothing more pathetic at this point than for state officials, scientists, newspapers, priests/rabbis/, or citizens to making cringing appeals to Trump.
Just closes the schools, bars, and other nonessential places of congregation already and start ramping up NY's system of healthcare rather than waiting helplessly on the sidelines worrying about the political consequences of any action.
2
An excellent letter and collection of straightforward and meaningful suggestions. We have the additional tools available to help better deal with this crisis; let' use them! The President has rightly declared this pandemic a national emergency. Let's throw everything we have that can make a difference to slowing and stopping spread of the virus. PDH
1
The Navy has 2 hospital ships & the capability to build 500 bed hospitals packed in CONEX boxes. FEMA has emergency trailers around the country. It's time to use those.
8
I was US Army.
The American public does NOT want active duty units deployed within the United States. That’s what the National Guard is for. Regular Army units don’t train to aid domestically. The National Guard does. And does everyone remember Katrina? The National Guard isn’t even particularly good at taking care of Americans in crisis. The regular Army would be worse.
The active US Army isn’t good at building things. It’s good at blowing things up. And I get it, the pandemic requires resources. But the US Army isn’t the resource that many people probably think it is.
It would be a LOT better to simply activate the National Guard in all 50 states and utilize federal funds to keep them spun up. Deploy federal dollars to hospitals and nursing homes so they can keep their operations fully staffed and keep their supply closets fully stocked. And the best way to create a containment of the virus? Stop Fox News from broadcasting people who keep saying the virus is no big deal.
Deploying the regular Army into American cities is not a recipe for success.
65
@Austin Ouellette
These are not normal times. One of the first times I was in Europe I had run into a particular problem and brought it to the attention of my European boss. He looked at me and said, "You are an American. BE CREATIVE!!" He was right.
The same is true here. While I am sure you speak the truth from your experience, we need to expand our horizons, roll up our sleeves, and get the job done. All will need to pitch in. This is exactly what happened in WWII. As an expat, I would say that is the greatest strength of Americans. Like Mike Ditka once said, "Whatever it takes".
4
@Austin Ouellette Cuomo was specifically referring to the Army Corp of Engineers (as opposed to the standing US Army) which consistently works on projects in the territorial US.
22
@Austin Ouellette
I would like to point out that the US military imposed their generals and other personnel to govern western Germany and Japan at the end of WWII. They did an acceptable job in that capacity (I think MacArthur was a terrible person). The military should never be deployed against the citizens of this country. But, to deploy them and their resources seems reasonable in this crisis. I generally trust their training.
2
All of your suggestions address "after-the-fact" infection response, and will cost countless billions. For a very small fraction of that cost the U.S. Government could provide every single American with quality hand sanitizers (70% alcohol or better), which is the best way to keep from contracting the virus. Stores are sold out and suppliers are not stepping up production to meet demand. And also supply N95 face masks, the best way to keep from spreading the virus. Stop focusing on how to deal with the out of control spread of the virus, and focus instead on preventing it in the first place.
For example:
1. Require mass transit passengers to wear face masks.
2. Require companies to step up production of hand sanitizers and face masks to meet demand.
3. Make it a Federal Offense to hoard essential products or price gouge.
2
OK a face mask may work once, then must be discarded, so your proposal to step up production of a product made primarily in China would require construction of new factories or retooling of existing factories in this country. is that going to happen in a matter of days or weeks? Who will pay for it or do you propose that every American buy face masks rather than pay for food or pay rent? Hand sanitizer works somewhat less effectively than hand washing, which costs far less, and neither work if not practiced. Are you proposing a law requiring every American to sanitize his/her hands (how often?) with sanitizer purchased with rent money and how will you enforce that? The problem is hospital capacity for acutely ill patients, solved only by increasing capacity.
2
FYI, according the people who KNOW something (unlike the ones who ”have a knack for it”) masks are very inefficient-even the N95 ones-because no one wears them correctly and then you take them off to eat. Hand sanitizer yes-and I do believe there is some legislation on price gauging-though hoarding would be good except impossible to prove. And would we go after the toilet paper people? All these things are good ideas-after the fact or before- they need discussion-BUT that would be doing something. And BTW it already is after the fact. It’s here and is here bigger than we know if we follow all the other countries trajectories. We need to attack both ends.
2
@Meerkat Mac : hand sanitizer has no magical properties.
Ordinary soap and hot water work better!!!!
Hand sanitizer is a CONVENIENCE for when you are in the car, traveling or somewhere away from running water.
People lived happily before hand sanitizer was invented! ask any boomer.
That being said: there is plenty of hand sanitizer out there -- but people are HOARDING IT! hoarding is a huge problem and about to explode and get much, much worse.
It will be pretty hard to get any kind of policy like "don't hoard" and enforce it -- on 330 million people in 50 states.: hand sanitizer has no magical properties.
Ordinary soap and hot water work better!!!!
Hand sanitizer is a CONVENIENCE for when you are in the car, traveling or somewhere away from running water.
People lived happily before hand sanitizer was invented! ask any boomer.
That being said: there is plenty of hand sanitizer out there -- but people are HOARDING IT! hoarding is a huge problem and about to explode and get much, much worse.
It will be pretty hard to get any kind of policy like "don't hoard" and enforce it -- on 330 million people in 50 states.
1
All of the governor’s suggestions are needed, and then some.
We are being attacked by aliens, similar to “Independence Day”, the movie. This is a world war against an outsider.
All budgetary, deficit and other normal time considerations should be abandoned. As it usually happens, after the war is won, economic activity returns with a vengeance. Then we will have time to take stock of what has happened and recalibrate our finances.
To make this decisions we need world leaders. Regrettably, there are none to be found.....
6
The massive jam ups at the airports because of additional screening is indicative of a well intentioned but poorly thought out action. Large numbers of people packed in together is a way to expose large numbers of people who are then traveling to various places.
The decisions need to be made thoughtfully with an understanding of the consequences. The experts need to be utilized.
4
@Javaforce I couldn't agree more! The Dallas DFW airport has such screening in place with a requirement to fill out a Federal questionnaire. People stood in line for over 4 hrs, missed connecting flights, then went on their way virus or not. Of course, packed in together while in line as they were, far more of them probably now have the virus than did before. We need well contemplated strategy, not knee-jerk reactions. We need presidential leadership, not cheap casino tactics.
The statesmanship shown by Governor Cuomo is a breath of fresh air. If Trump could place the well being of ALL Americans ahead of his re-election paranoia there may be renewed hope in this unprecedented health crisis. November may be too late. As warned the election of Trump would be the end of civilization as we know it. We are on the cusp.
8
Mobilize the Army now... a centralized force can move personnel to where they are needed, set up field hospitals, enhance the availability of doctors and protective equipment. Hurry before it is too late....
9
I doubt DT will want to free up the military for anything other than the "national emergency - two big words" at the border. Watching Dr. Fauci this morning with Chris Wallace - he blew up Trump's continued whining that the "previous administration" had regulations that prevented them from acting faster.
First of all - Trump has not let any law, regulation, amendment, rule - stand in his way. All of a sudden, with a pandemic on our doorstep, he's hamstrung? Only his base will believe him, which is why he made that blatant lie on national t.v. to his base. And then tried to dismiss Alcindor's legitimate question about the lack of experts that his administration- him- got rid of.
Frankly, my hat goes off to Cuomo and every other governor who have had to step in and take control. Sadly, the base still continues to believe Trump is in control. Good for you Governor Cuomo!
10
This Republican agrees with this Democratic Governor. At least for the most part.
Given differences in circumstances some degree of variation in local policies is needed, and I don’t feel comfortable transferring the draconian near dictatorial powers that states have in epidemics to the federal government, but the problem with people crossing state lines to defeat epidemic mitigation measures requires some federal action.
I agree 100% with his statements on testing. The feds should simply waive enforcement of the 1988 law that gave control to the FDA for this situation. It is a proper emergency authority and should have happened 6 weeks ago. I fact I feel that the federal failure to declare non enforcement was a justification for the states to go ahead and act as needed anyway. I pretty sure no one was going to dare pursue enforcement.
I don’t see the Corp of Engineers as the proper way to create bed capacity. As a Louisianan I have long lived in the shadow of the Corp and that is just not how they work. I also saw what State and Local governments could accomplish in emergency situations in consortiums with medical societies to create medical facilities out of other unused public spaces in Houston and Baton Rouge after Katrina. It is not so much a space problem as a personal problem, an equipment problem, and an authority problem. The emergency authority to eliminate the regulatory barriers must come from the state.
2
1. Build military field hospitals immediately. They could be quickly set up in the fields of Central Park, or any city parks.
2. Alternatively, out of service cruise ships could be brought into NY ports, and ports around the country and used as hospitals.
13
I would like to add to the list a federally enforced crackdown on the hoarding and price gauging of needed supplies. Unfortunately there are those among us who look at this crisis as an opportunity to profit. As the article in the Times yesterday pointed out, people raced around buying up all available supplies with the express intent of getting rich quick. How is this ever so predictable behavior of humans to loot or scam each other during times of crisis always addressed well after the fact instead of before?
6
What Gov. Cuomo, or any reasonably informed person needs to understand, is that this president will not take, much less comprehend, advice from any expert particularly if they happen to be a Democrat.
In fact, he has surrounded himself by many people whose main function appears to be agreeing with him no matter what harebrained idea comes into his head.
Every day this president is in office, mismanaging our country, is a day that will likely translate into an increased death rate for citizens of the United States.
There are, with few exceptions, no medical experts in his administration unless they are Republican medical/political experts.
Gov. Cuomo is an experienced and knowledgeable public servant.
Why is he wasting his time with on Trump, who is, after all, forty dollar haircut on a ten cent head?
26
@interested party: That ain't no "forty dollar haircut."
1
A good list of recommendations but I am concerned with some of the ideas for expanding and localizing testing. How are local and private tests trialed and approved without the FDA or CDC oversight? And where is there a centralized database of testing and results which seems to be missing from current proposals? There needs to be a more cohort nationwide plan for testing and reporting results.
1
The military is expert at logistics. They have to be or they will lose the battle. They could indeed build hospitals in days as the Chinese did. In particular the Army's Corps of Engineers and the Navy's SeaBees could be tasked with helping out. The Corps even has existing jurisdiction in the U.S., avoiding the problem of posse comitatus that other units have.
8
Everything in this article is needed!
Since the beginning of March the confirmed number of infections has been increasing at an average of almost 40% per day. And we are on track to have over a million confirmed cases by mid-April.
Just follow this article and shut the country down just like Italy. We have hours and days to act, no time to waste.
14
One of the problems is the shortage of doctors. Many Americans have attended medical schools in Hispanic America, that have good medical schools that meet american standards. HA can provide thousand of doctors,that after a brief training can work effectively with american doctors. I hope that the Trump administration overcome their narrow nationalism and adopt this proposal for the good of the nation.
2
Perhaps more than any other public figure, Governor Cuomo is providing real leadership during this crisis. He is clear, cogent, frank, and completely credible. Sadly, the President has none of these qualities. It is time for the states to officially take over the management of the corona virus, with financial and other support from the federal government as needed. The federal government needs to get out of the way.
12
@Mark Siegel
Too bad Prince Andrew didn't feel this way two weeks ago.
In early March, when the first CV confirmed case was announced in NYC, he and Mayor Big Bird held a joint news conference at which the princeling insisted that while the CV is concerning, it's not as grave as other illnesses such ebola or the flu.
"Avian flu, ebola, SARS, MERS, measles, right? So we have gone through this before. When you look at the reality here, about 80%of people who are infected with the coronavirus self-resolve . . . 20 percent get ill. The mortality rate estimated to be about 1.4 percent -- what does that mean? The normal flu mortality rate is about 0.6 percent."
Queens Courier, Volume 33, Number 10
Week of March 5 - 11
The mayor supported Cuomo's stance, and said that the CV leaves healthy NYers with nothing to fear.
As the worm turns. Two weeks is a lifetime.
1
Despite the recent downturn, the United States has the world’s strongest economy. This is a significant benefit in fighting the virus. Take advantage of this strength and lock down the country for two weeks. Do it. Now.
8
@Dave Thomas As it sits right now anyone in Seattle or any other hot spot can jump in their care to drive anywhere in the nation with absolutely no interference, no testing, no temperature taken, nothing. Just gas up the car and go.
When I was in surgical training 20 years ago I rotated through the Minneapolis VA Hospital. It is an impressive, large facility with excellent staff which was consistently operating a half capacity.
I wondered why the VA maintained so many facilities which could not be filled by its patients. Eventually I was told that the VA was partially built to be a surge capacity care system in the event of mass casualties from a future conflict.
Looks like we have one now.
29
@Victor Plenty of big offices to twittle thumbs and contemplate government retirement though..
@Victor Good reminder that the VA hospitals could be made available to all in this emergency....
1
We already localized testing. The patient is eventually confirmed by the CDC in accordance with law. However, the assumption is the local tests are good enough. We treat a positive as a positive even without a confirmed test. If the federal government is inept, why wait for the federal seal of approval? Just act.
Gov. Cuomo's point about interstate travel and commerce is much more salient. Trump absolutely seeks to blame and penalize states which don't support him politically. We've seen this before and we're seeing it play out in real time now. The President is vindictive to a fault.
There needs to be a national ban on non-essential domestic travel with clear instructions for people caught on the road. What's to stop someone from traveling from an infected resort in Florida to, say, Washington DC? The President is currently the world's worst role model.
I agree with the military recommendation as well. We can send troops to the border to prevent a non-life-threatening group of refugees from entering the country but we can't setup extra healthcare facilities for a life threatening virus? Why do we even have a military? The US Army is trained in handling infectious disease. Lookup why Walter Reed is called Walter Reed.
Meanwhile we have a President who won't admit to being tested until he's confirmed the results are negative. I truly hope the virus comes for him. The ineptitude isn't just appalling, it's dangerous.
17
Governor Cuomo,
My advice is to forget about getting FDA approval and go ahead and take whatever steps are necessary to fast track testing. God forbid that this would get held up due to red tape. I think the citizens of New York would approve.
12
The USACE-C has competitive contracting guidelines that would slow the building of medical facilities. Only an IDIQ,(Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts) used extensively in wartime TO, (Theater of Operations) would speed up the awarding of contracts to construct hospital facilities.
If you are talking about using active duty COE, for pop facilities, that is a different animal.
1
The proported zero cases of Coronavirus in West Virginia is very illustrative of the patchwork approach mentioned. Of course West Virginia has cases of Coronavirus; authorities just have not tested and identified those people yet. In these types of circumstances, we are only as strong as our weakest links.
21
@Casual Observer
You can't test people who don't present themselves with symptoms.
1
It is time to end health and safety by chance. People’s continued existence should not be based on who’s your employer (if you have one), the city/state you live in, what type of healthcare plan you can afford, or which party is in power. The federal government needs to take forceful charge of the response to the threat of pandemic and the future of healthcare. The main purpose of the federal government is to protect the nation’s security. It is great to have the biggest most powerful military, but what good is it if the nation’s health and economy can be crippled by a virus. The lack of clear, powerful national leadership is giving the virus a chance to spread. Institutions and states are being forced to act on their own to protect citizens. I am in Spain where the national government has acted decisively to protect the population. I can’t leave my house, almost everything is closed and the military is enforcing the quarantine while helping with the stricken. When is the US going to grow up and start adulting.
32
Using troops to increase hospital space is not necessarily the fastest way. Existing construction projects can provide workers that are trained. Pre-fab hospital construction - as in China - can quickly provide space using public spaces for the construction. This might be Central Park in NY or Boston Common, for example. But it has to start now.
Thank you, Governor Cuomo, for this thoughtful and coherent plea. Let's hope it is heard and acted upon. Now.
57
Yes to all of the above, plus: enlist heavy industry to ramp up the production of ventilators and other essential equipment. Enlist the people to form local task forces to safely distribute food and supplies to their shut-in neighbors. Establish rations of dwindling essentials.
If all of this sounds like our response to WW IO, it should.
14
How many hospital beds and ventilators could we have bought for the price of a mile of border wall? I'm 76. When the triage doctor decides that my COVID-19 should go untreated, my survivors can take comfort in having been protected against some immigrants.
243
@Randalf : even if you are untreated, and age 76...you have a 90% chance of recovering from the coronavirus.
1
@Concerned Citizen With severe organ damage.
3
@Concerned Citizen That survival rate was true for China up to mid-February, according to the data I can find. It's not clear that it included people who went untreated, and it's unlikely that it would be applicable in Maryland at the pandemic's peak. I assume my prognosis would be better with treatment than without, which is my point.
6
I think we need to slow down and think all of this through. It seems that most Americans are going to be Ok. The Elderly and fragile folks need the full focus.
Right now self interest, food hoarding, price gouging and hysteria have overwhelming taken control.
All of this overreaction is causing tremendous economic impact on the folks who can least afford it.
And of course The House passed a bill the protects the Big Corporations from paying hourly workers for lost time.
12
@TobyFinn Hoarding should be a crime but in an unregulated capitalist state hoarding is seen as entrepreneurship. The House needs to a pass a a new bill to cover workers laid off from Big Corporations. Having the military set up extra hospital beds in case they are needed is not an over reaction but rather called planning. There are plenty of military people in this country who are employed so we are ready should a conflict break out..why not make use of them?
14
@TobyFinn
Um, when a virus has a latency period when it can spread exponentially before someone knows they're carrying it, it's NOT the time to "slow down and think all of this through." Every day wasted means that approximately 10x more people become infected.
Plus, from his comments, it's clear that Gov Cuomo (along with other governors) has indeed "thought things through." Every one of his recommendations makes sense.
This is not "overreaction." This is how a proactive government springs into action when its citizens need help.
62
@TobyFinn We are experiencing severe UNDER-reaction. Mitigation should be a critical priority at the moment. We should be on lockdown. Think I'm engaging in hyperbole? Just wait a week or two. BTW, when the House passes a bill, it is not yet law. Their are piles and piles of potential laws and bills sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk. And 40 Republicans in the House actually voted against the House Bill. I'll believe something good has happened when the check is in my hands.
29
Excellent strategy. Unfortunately since you thought of it first and recommended it to Trump in writing before his advisors did, he probably won’t do it. But even if you didn’t think of this before him, he still wouldn’t do it. In his mind if the stock market remains steady, the country is not in any crisis. Any move to protect American lives as you are urging him to take would be bad for Wall Street. This is his priority. Had he not had a market crash last week he would not have made any moves at all. He’s not panicking over a virus outbreak. He is panicking over the stock market. He doesn’t understand or refuses to acknowledge that a volatile stock market has no correlation to our actual economy. He claims to be a businessman yet he has little clue as to how stocks are priced or how economics actually works. Nor does he understand the long term negative effect to our economy if he doesn’t do what you are asking him to do right now. Most people who support him don’t understand the complexity either. They think because he has money that he made through real estate ventures, that he can actually troubleshoot and mitigate global health or economic threats to our country. Please keep sending your ideas. He will ignore them but we won’t. We can learn from your experience. Thank you.
47
@Fred I agree that the only thing that interests this Administration is The Market - however - do not kid yourself. The market will be volatile until the virus is better understood, testing is available to all who need it (ie, is it a cold or is it the flu or is it Covid-19) and until the Experts are allowed to speak and we, as a people, believe what they say.
12
If Trump is betting on the free market to resolve the COVID-19 scare, he has to be reminded in the long run, we're all dead. The market can stay irrational longer than most people can stay solvent. Someone needs to sneak in a copy of Steven Covey's book "Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People" into the White House.
Here are the key insights
1- Be proactive. ...
2- Begin with an end in mind. ...
3- Put first things first. ...
4- Think win-win. ...
5- Seek first to understand, then to be understood. ...
6- Synergize
7- Sharpen the saw. Don't work yourself to death. ...
Economists believe the line is between free-enterprise & planning, and that the logical extremes are not possible. Donald Trump's inability to be forthcoming and transparent isn’t a coincidence. One has to be selfless and egoless to give perfect guidance as to where to draw the line since it exposes your preferences and biases. On occasions lines are drawn, because of self interest (gains/loss) individuals would probably draw lines in different places. But as soon as you admit that the extreme is not possible, and that a line has to be drawn, you are, on your own argument, done for since you are trying to persuade us that as soon as one moves an inch in the planned direction you are necessarily launched on the slippery path which will lead you in due course towards an economic paradox. This pandemic has exposed this Donald Trump because he found it easier to destroy than to build, to criticize than to create.
18
@José Franco - Succinctly stated and extremely poignant. Thanks for adding depth to the conversation.
Peace
2
@José Franco Reminds me. The German paper Die Welt is reporting that Trump personally addressed the head of a German research firm working on developing a vaccine against COVID-19 and offered the firm "large sums of money" if they would a) turn over their research to the US and b) give the US exclusive rights to its development, use and--obviously--sale. The discussion purportedly happened at a meeting attended by CEOs of American Big Pharma.
Ah, Capitalism...
1
@WOID Envision a gathering convened by two people who disagree politically but are willing to mutually acknowledge that the other side may see some real threats more clearly than does one's own side. Where do you draw the line? I’ve imagined a world where we accept the idea “becoming” has no goal & that underneath all “becoming” there is no grand unity in which the individual could immerse himself completely as in an element of supreme value, we can choose another path: instead of judging ourselves & others for things we did or didn't do in the past, we all can instead invent a world beyond it, a true world. We can easily begin to remove self imposed obstacles once we recognize life is what you do with what’s been done to you. What individuals can become through proactive living and the habits we each choose to have are & become our true reality. Most important since the best way to affect any group is by individuals modeling desired behavior. Noble sentiments about capitalism while ignoring it's uncomfortable truths, at times create the biggest pitfalls and challenges to a more productive existence. If things are to continually improve, we must take a multi-disciplinary approach to how we think. Sharing abstract beliefs is only possible if we believe in the rule of law promoting individual liberty. The greatest danger is having good laws administered badly. Our goal shouldn't be perfection, we should strive to do the greatest good through the most pardonable inconveniences.
1
This sounds good but, sorry, the governor is guilty of as much inconsistency as others. Until recently he advocated closing SUNY schools to lecture classes but keeping laboratory classes open. That suggestion is totally useless and didn’t change one-to-one interactions at all. There’s no logic that 250 people can’t meet but if the same 250 people meet in groups of 125 they become magically progtected. And of course faculty is not protected at all because they would meet all 250. The NYC decision by deBlasio to keep the public schools open is criminal. It’s good politics because schools often serve as daycare centers but it’s bad medicine.
12
@Danson West
"It’s good politics because schools often serve as daycare centers but it’s bad medicine."
OK, that's a true long-term problem. However, this very contagious virus requires quick action because it spreads exponentially. There's no time to fix the daycare system; it's more important to keep people separated.
And about your comment about lab courses: Individual SUNY schools are implementing the gov's policy according to their own best thinking, following CDC recommendations. First of all, labs don't meet with 125 students in them; most labs have 10-25 students. Second of all, students can spread out by 6' in lab spaces. Thirs of all, the two SUNY colleges near me have actually cancelled their labs because they've already sent their sudents home; I imagine others will too.
In a time of crisis, there's going to be "inconsistency." But don't go around complaining about little problems, when the gov is working hard to protect millions of people all at once. Your complaining isn't helpful. Gov Cuomo has been much more proactive and constsent than Trump's federal response.
10
@Paul-A. Please do let us know where you teach labs. In my labs no student will be able to spread out 6 ft apart. And the virus can remain infective for days on a surface. Lab equipment is being handled continually. Any one infected student or faculty member can infect others. To my knowledge the CDC made no differentiation between lecture and lab classes.
@Danson West The situation is incredibly complex. Shutting NYC public schools deprives literally hundreds of thousands of food-challenged kids their only decent meals of the day. A recent report suggested that 1 of 10 NYC school kids live in shelters or are homeless. (My niece, who teaches in alphabet city in lower Manhattan can attest to this.) So you have to consider all these knock-on effects. Plus, as the mayor (who I generally despise) and the governor have pointed out, the city's care-givers, health-care workers, etc., would be effectively prevented from going to work if they have young kids to take care of at home. The idea of total NYC shutdown is one of panic, not thoughtful analysis.
Time is of the essence. We're less than a week away from near-certain catastrophe and still our leaders drag their feet. Already an economic disaster, this will soon be about life and death.
20
I have come to expect only muddling incoherence as a response to this crisis, so it was comforting to read a clear strategy from the Governor.
Alas, I continue to have little faith in the federal government.
Why wouldn’t I expect Mitch McConnell will play partisan games with the relief legislation, like he does with everything else?
Meanwhile, the occupant of the White House is busy seeming busy, with his ball cap on and his phalanx of experts who know things but can do nothing under his leadership.
And Mike Pence’s directive seems to be, “whatever you do, whatever happens, make the President look good.”
86
I’d like to see billionaires like Bloomberg, Bezos, Gates and others step forward and free up funds to pay for healthcare for those not already covered by insurance.
47
@Martha Goff Maybe Bloomberg can free up some of the funds he was planning to use to make sure a candidate running on Medicare-for-All wouldn't get elected...
4
@Martha Goff
We are a capitalist country. That is the problem. You cannot expect the wealthy to pay for our problems. You should be able to count on government. That is why people form governments, to do what individuals cannot. We need a strong socialist system. Not have to go begging at Bill Gates's homes.
11
@Martha Goff Perhaps like the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health ? Or perhaps the other 1.8 BILLION he gave to Johns Hopkins recently ?
Maybe other billionaires such as Trump should do the same. Or maybe just let the government pass a decent healthcare bill so people won't need charity to get healthcare.
4
I have fears that adequate testing will only be available when it reaches the irony threshold, i.e. when all testing will reveal is that things are out of control.
The old adage is proven, you get what you pay for. For years we’ve underinvested in many areas, watched the rich fail to pay their share, made things more efficient without factoring in resiliency, and thought our good luck will last forever. The bill is now due, delivered by the grim reaper, and he only accepts one form of payment.
I hope the vast majority that survives learns from our mistakes. Our greatest mistake being thinking that we weren’t all in this together.
55
@spughie
"I have fears that adequate testing will only be available when it reaches the irony threshold, i.e. when all testing will reveal is that things are out of control."
Good point! Maybe that's the administration's strategy - delay testing long enough that it will be moot - the extent of the devastation will be obvious.
2
@spughie
Yup.. you have to pay to play... apparently social democracy and socialized medicine are not a bad thing.. For example...yesterday I heard Ohio had done 35 tests while Ontario Canada had done 5,000 to 10,000 Covid tests and found about 2% infection rate... A US/Canada lock down is a very real possibility and very soon I suspect. Meanwhile Trump shakes hands and lies on TV. Who elected this guy?
4
When this is all over, we will either have a massive health care crisis or the greatest case of hysteria in our nation’s history. I lean towards the latter. We are, thankfully, heading into spring and summer. There is a reason we call this time of the year “cold and flu season.” My feeling (and hope) is that this crisis will burn out with the warmer weather that is around the corner. If it does, we need to take a close look at how the political system, media, and medical establishment have hyped this up to such an extent that there is a run on toilet paper and other basic products, and caused the economy to go into free fall.
2
If you believe that this all so much hysteria, I invite you to read the nightmarish accounts of doctors and nurses in Italian hospitals.
We are in the midst of a public health crisis. If — as we all hope — the worst case does not come to pass here, it will be because of the combined (but not coordinated) efforts of state governments, businesses, and individuals. And blind luck. This will not mean that there was unfounded hysteria.
22
@Jon S I hope your feelings and hope are correct. However, we do not know yet what this virus may do. We don’t know if it will diminish in the summer only to return with a vengeance in the fall. Ideally, all the measures people are taking now will result in the situation you hope for. But make no mistake, that situation will not just happen on it’s own. Every decision made about how to control the spread will play into what occurs. And of course if successful, we’ll have to listen to all the people who thought it was all hysteria say they were right and there was nothing to worry about all along....
5
@Jon S
I like you enthusiasm and I hope you are right! But will the virus survive in air conditioned environments over the summer? And will it come back in force in the fall, just like the flu does? We won't have a vaccine ready for another 12 to 18 months so I am not willing to bet on anything.
I worry when I read this article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/business/trump-administration-nursing-homes.html
The epidemic started in a nursing home. I am not panicking, I just want to be informed by agencies and clear headed. We seem to be living in two realities, in one, pundits are paying lip service to our President, in the other the daily emergence of facts elicit the reaction of people who can look faster into the future than our administration. Criticism is constructive and learning to listen is smart.
So yes, people panic in tightly packed places like New York. They might not do so as much in Houston if you guys are not living on top of each other. I understand your predicament. Please try understand ours?
1
The president is objectively making things worse. Let's take a group of people we are concerned might have COVID-19, pack them shoulder to shoulder for 7 hours while asking them to share pens, and then send them back out into society. That is what he's done.
On the science side, he could have put all his efforts into fielding as many test kits in as little time as possible and in funding vaccine research.
On the behavioral side, most Americans would do what you need them to do if only you ask and tell them why you need them to do it. Yes, governments can close schools, etc. but really we all have to participate because we want to. When FDR encountered a banking crisis, he went on the radio for his first fireside chat. He literally went to the trouble to explain how banks work in simple terms anyone could understand. Then he explained why bank runs were so harmful and why he had implemented his bank holiday. Of course, he understood all those things. Our current incumbent doesn't know, and doesn't care, and is certainly not capable of bringing out the better angels of our nature. He brings out the worst in all of us.
71
As a former staffer in a previous Cuomo administration, I can attest to the Governor’s tenacity and fortitude during times like these. We must work together, look past the ups and downs of the stock market, and approach our next steps with a laser-like focus.
What we are experiencing is incredibly serious, unprecedented, and soon to be very dangerous. To the Governor’s third point, mobilizing the power of the federal government now to rapidly increase the capacity of our healthcare system will alleviate future burdens on our hospitals and could literally save thousands if not millions of lives.
Governor, thank you for your leadership, past and present.
64
@Cameron I think his leadership is mediocre. Schools should have been closed by now. Other restrictions should have been imposed by now.
1
I have consulted with the NYS DOH and NYC DOHMH on preparedness issues since the post 9/11 anthrax attacks. Both agencies have been repeatedly tried to build capacity under every administration in Albany and NYC. Time and again, the politicians delayed building new facilities in both Albany and NYC even though we knew this day was coming. The reason why New York is facing a testing crisis without proper capacity is because it failed to act when it had the chance. While the plans are in place in both NYC and Albany to build new facilities, both projects are mired in red tape, politics and inaction. To his credit, Gov. Cuomo was the first administration we worked with that embraced the need, only to run into the undercurrent of corruption that is Albany. Once we are past this, the state needs to build these facilities without delay.
15
Meanwhile, this paper reports the bars are packed. Shut the bars. Emergency rules for restaurants on seating. Distribution of infrared thermometers at main food markets, quarantining of some items. Many state-level undone and obvious things.
In the Don’s tiny, vindictive mind, anything that really hurts both coasts is a good thing.
And yes, the National Guard and the military are the only task forces we have to expand medical bed capacity and temporary trained staffing. Anything at all done yet?
25
Thank you, Gov. Cuomo for this letter and for the actions you've taken to mitigate the effects of Covid-19. It's heartening to know that there are leaders like yourself and Gov. Inslee who are acting responsibly and sensibly. Hopefully, the federal government takes your advice seriously and acts immediately. Unfortunately, the time and opportunity they lost to downplaying this for two months can't be regained, but they can--and must--do everything in their power now to slow/stop the virus' spread and provide the health care that will be required.
12
Mr. Trump, if you do what Mr. Cuomo suggested it will be good for your reelection.
12
Governor, YOU need to act NOW. We are counting on YOU to take measures NOW. Close ALL schools. Close ALL non-essential commerce. Limit access to grocery stores and pharmacies.
Quebec closed all schools days ago when they had NINE confirmed cases. Do you know something their premier does not know? Bars and restaurants in my neighborhood were busy as ever last night. People are not making rational decisions for the greater good right now, and we are looking to YOU to act to literally save our lives. Please ACT NOW.
111
@Aaron Chase
Aaron, how long are businesses supposed to close for, exactly? Does it make sense to destroy the entire economy over a virus that won't kill most people?
2
@Aaron Chase
After all commerce is closed , don't complain about all the homeless people. I don't know about you but my rent is still due in April.
3
@Frank Frank, you (and governor Cuomo and mayor De Blasio) need to think more long term. Non-essential commerce needs to end for as long as it takes to flatten the curve. Doing that will save lives. Live people spend money in the community and pay taxes. Dead people, not so much.
3
Thank you governor, some very sound advice for the president here. One consideration re schools: while there should be federal guidelines about closures, we're obviously not there yet. So for now it is up to localities to make the call at the right time. We're past that time frankly. You must override NYC's mayor and close public schools. Today. Now.
35
Close everything, nationwide, for 2 weeks. None of us know where we are and businesses like restaurants are helpless. Do they keep on now unnecessary staff and make up tipped wages to minimum, or lay everyone off and know their staff won’t be able to make rent and car payments?
We need firm guidance and a financial package for all such businesses.
79
Thank you, Governor Cuomo, for your wisdom, leadership, your pragmatic approach to this catastrophe, and for your intelligence and compassion. If you were president, we would be in MUCH better shape than we are today. The military absolutely needs to get involved posthaste. But it’s apparently more important to build a wall and establish a Space Force. This is unprecedented, but having you at the helm is a great source of comfort. You are a godsend when we need it most. Thank you again, and best of luck and good health to you and to yours.
67
@H. Clark Are you serious? President Cuomo? This clown is a fear spreading fool! His fascist beliefs come out immediately...use the military to control the population or millions will die. He's ruined this once great state and is driving the productive part of the population to leave the state.
1
Gov Cuomo, it is a very well thought out and sensible suggestion. Thank you for your leadership. I really hope that POTUS accepts your idea. So sad that a part of me already thinks it’s unlikely...
27
Great idea but flawed. Military corps has been cut over decades along with the shut down of facilities. They cannot even take care of their own charges of responsibility. They outsource almost all of their personnel to the civilian community. This has been many years of BRAC commissions. As with defense peace through strength. So should we be thinking of the future medical facilities. Ones that can be opened should be. Staffing will still be an issue. Remember also the military personnel that themselves can be infected and spread.
4
There are enough of them to make some hospital beds. C'mon.
Thank you Governor Cuomo. It is reassuring to see someone speak with sense and lay out a plan that addresses the scale of the problem. Competent leadership has been missing.
19
How rich that the governor is able to point fingers while forcing me and tens of thousands of public school teachers into petri dishes where our lives and the lives of our family members are at risk. By keeping schools open, Cuomo has abdicated responsibility for pandemic mitigation and will be responsible for countless deaths.
23
@CP: Cuomo is advising the president there should be policies and criteria for school closures put in place on the federal level. School closures force at least one parent (or the only parent in case of one-parent families) to stay home and forfeit their wages in many cases and risk job loss with all consequences of that "decision". And what if that parent is a teacher him/herself, or a critical care provider? Higher education and high school can go on-line (and higher education is doing that now) but for primary education and pre-school it's not so easy.
7
@Anna
Not easy? LA and Illinois did it. It's doable.
It will happen here and then people will wonder why it took so long. Then we can watch Cuomo and DeBlasio backpedal and apologize and the LEft blame Trump for local decisions
2
@Norville T. Johnston: Yes, it's doable, and if that's what it takes to stop the virus from spreading further, it must be done. But it's still not easy, because it requires at least one parent, in NYC often the only parent, to stay at home with their young children.
1
Excellent advice, Governor! May I also suggest that the government train TSA workers to screen incoming travelers for coronavirus at airports instead of screening outgoing travelers? At this juncture, the imminent danger from coronavirus to our country’s well being is infinitely greater than travelers with weapons. May our government soon choose wisdom over chaos.
12
I agree. Now that the pandemic is in full swing here in the U.S., we have to consider ways to slow the spread HERE. Allowing travel across domestic boarders should be highly regulated and controlled. Screen individuals leaving. If they test positive, they cannot travel and must be sent to their homes and quarantined. If they are returning home from a high risk state (ie, NY) testing and screening MUST be done before leaving the airport.
3
BRAVO! A real governor with courage. Let's see if our President is up to the task.
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@SC Durham
" Let's see if our President is up to the task."
He's not. Never has been, never will be.
2
@SC Durham Well, you know he’s not. :((
1
Agreed
We need to do like China and we need to do it now: Move hundreds of billions of dollars to construct/retrofit new hospital facilities out of existing vacated infrastructure on military bases and in deserted shopping malls, and tool up mass manufacturing of ventilators, other medical equipment and tests as needed for these facilities.
All attention should be there. This is like WWII, but the enemy is invisible
140
Rather than build new structures local, state and federal governments need to utilize existing real estate structures to minimize the time constraints. There are plenty of vacant office buildings, unoccupied stores and other vacant building structures that can be retrofitted to serve as temporary medical facilities.
Less than a mile from my residence there are several medical buildings that have been vacant for more than 5 years.
Hopefully people in government at all levels are looking for solutions that already exist right in front of their faces.
6
And who will staff these new facilities?
2
Thank you Governor Cuomo! I hope that all governors ask for the same assistance in all states.
It’s way past the time to play catch up.
47
Thank you Governor Cuomo for standing for us all. I also appreciate your putting aside differences for the good of everyone. This shows leadership and strength, which is what we need right now.
153
It is imperative to perform testing at a large scale. As the governor states, our healthcare system is not designed to deal with thousands of patients at the same time.
Until we know who has this virus or not, we are dealing with very dangerous unknowns.
To our president and team.... Where are the millions of tests that were promised a week ago?
Lastly, thank you Mr. Cuomo for your updates, responsiveness, and leadership.
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@BR
" our healthcare system is not designed to deal with thousands of patients at the same time..."
Right. It is designed to generate billions of profits in as short a time as possible...because anybody with any sense can see it's bound to implode.
But, hey, with or without medical attention, billions of people die every day. Which is good for the planet, I guess, and for future generations...I hope...
1
@BR
It’s too late to catch up with the tests. Even if we got tests started in full force today (which won’t happen — it will be at least another month, maybe two), the virus is already brewing “bigly” enough that our hospitals are soon to be overwhelmed. At this point, we have to cut our losses with the tests and focus our efforts on social distancing and boosting health care capacity.
2
Even if the President doesn't read this (can't, won't, refuses, whatever), others around him will. When an abundance of advice keeps coming at him from a growing number of sources, a tipping point of people around him will pressure him to take action.
Keep the advice, ideas coming Mr. Cuomo, and from all leaders now across America. We need your expertise. Americans value your experience and capacity to lead, even if the loudest child in America does not.
281
@Betsy
Maybe Cuomo and DeBlasio will then close the schools soon following your logic....
1
@Betsy Tweet it! He reads tweest. They're not too long for his attention span.
2
I expect Trump will send out a nasty tweet about Cuomo failing, probably with an ethnic slur.
3
Bravo Zulu Governor. A thousand times yes. Saving as many lives as possible is the only worthwhile goal. If we do not stand together we are surely doomed. The United States Navy is "a force for good". As is every branch of our services. We are 'armed' with compassion, talent, willpower and leadership. Most of all we understand shared sacrifice.
I am likely to succumb to this virus. But, I want my wife and children to survive. For all the reasons I was willing to give my life for my country.
President Trump, step aside. Let the dedicated professionals advise on the strategy. Forget the "economy." Understand how FDR worked to reorganize the resources and mobilized us to save the world. Now, it is far worse. The enemy is invisible. It does not vote. Except that it may not spare you.
Non sibi, sed suis. Non sibi, sed patriae.
We all are at the threshold of eternity.
221
@USNA73 careful skipper you are making sense which the administration can’t abide. Folks like you and Dr Fauci will see repercussions when this event has passed. And I’m certain that it will pass. But make no mistake retribution will occur as well
10
@USNA73: Sadly, Trump will not heed your advice. He cannot, because he is a psychopath and he was born that way, just like people with Down Syndrome for instance, were born that way. In that sense, Trump cannot be held accountable for what he is and what he does as a result. Unfortunately, whereas people with Down Syndrome are generally cheerful and moral people, psychopaths are a grave danger to society. They can't help themselves and neither can they be cured. Trump should be removed from office in the interest of the country, based on Amendment 25.4 of the Constitution and have Pence take over. Pence is far from perfect, but he will cooperate with experts to address the Corona virus threat and not contradict them and gaslight the American people the way Trump does because he's unable to change his lifelong ways.
15
@Anna We raised two special needs children. It is our individual duty to protect and serve the least fortunate among us. Please do your part, no matter how small.The Talmud tells us:
“He who saves a single life, saves the world entire.”
7
In addition to the Army Corp of Engineers, the Armed Forces medical corps should also be mobilized. Fourth year military medical students are virtually finished with all of their pre-MD training. They have all received their orders for active duty residency, which will start in July. They are all just killing time until they go on active duty. My son’s med school canceled all in-person activities. He had planned to go on a pre-graduation trip abroad, but now that has been canceled. Put these very well trained (at taxpayer expense) medical professionals to work by putting them on active duty early.
430
As a third-year medical student in Canada I can tell you that within hours of our clinical activities being cancelled, more than half of our class had signed our names to a student-led document offering to help in any way needed on a volunteer basis. I’m sure that a sizeable portion of the 20,000 civilian fourth year medical students in the US would be happy to volunteer.
43
@BCF and they are young , part of the demographic that can best handle it. It’s time to go to a war footing , all hands on deck.
14
@BCF One of the major bottleneck is limited protective gears. From the congress hearing we are very low on these. Manufacturing takes time and it really needs federal level coordination to secure the supply chain. The federal government really has a lot to act on right now!
7
Once we get out of this nightmare, the United States needs to seriously embark on an urgent project to completely reform its system of government to develop something that will work in the modern world. We are trying to run a 21st century country with an 18th century system of government. We are rapidly becoming a failed state.
314
We need scientists involved with our government policy, to the point of heading task forces, not advising them. Scientists whose reputation and track record are based on theory testing and evidence analysis. This should include medical scientists, virologists, epidemiologists, as well as meteorologists, geologists, marine biologists, and climate scientists. Not Pence.
57
While you're at it, maybe reform your electoral system. The primaries are from the age when you had to travel the entire country personally to present your case. It became unnecessary once electronic communications became common. The rest of the world look on in confusion (at a lot of things in America) at how it takes you two years to decide who's going to run for President.
And the system has amply proven not to pick your best and brightest.
Americans elections are such a circus that some foreign countries have dedicated TV programs just analysing them ['Planet America' on the Australian publically funded network ABC - no relation to American ABC. Two weekly programs].
8
What “nightmare”? Let’s take the panic level down 100 fold. 300,000 people died of influenza in 2019. I get that this is much more transmissible. But “nightmare”? “Panic”? Let’s take a breath, starting with the Governor trying to score political points through his favorite media outlet.
2
“Today, let’s work together as Americans. Time is short.”
If only the intended reader appreciated that sentiment. Ideally, it would even be coming from our highest office. Unfortunately, in Trump we have a leader so partisan and so petty that he made a point of rebuking Mike Pence for having praised Jay Inslee’s response to coronavirus.
We better have a Plan B for when these suggestions fall on deaf ears.
42
@NM
There is a Plan B: the 25th Amendment. But Pence and a majority of the Cabinet would have to place the interests of the public above Trump's (and Pence's) interest in reelection.
Did you watch the Rose Garden news conference on Friday? We need a Plan C.
3
Please, Governor Cuomo, the President is already fully focused on the situation without your very good ideas.
Just yesterday, Trump said “I was honored to see that the stock market set a record in a short period of time,” referring to Friday's stock market gains after his coronavirus handshaking and shared group-microphone press conference that extolled the virtues of Corporate America's CEO's and his promised Google website that is weeks away from reality.
There's no one home at the White House.
We're on our own, except for adult governors like yourself.
767
@Socrates
Call in the generals, they know how to mobilize and get personnel and gear where it needs to be. Mobilize them to fight this invisible enemy. There is clearly no centralized command and control. CDC is still a week behind focusing on China and Italy - and not France, Spain, South Korea, etc. Because CDC is so behind our Federal Agencies, following their lead, are still calling for us to go to work. The messages coming out of the government are hampering quick action in so many ways so I agree with the Governor - bring in Corps of Engineers - and their upper management!
24
@Socrates
Excellent post as always Socrates
I think the State of New York should immediately license testing independent of the Federal Government.
Let the Fed's take us to court.
South Korea tests 10,000 people a day using German licensed test kits that they manufacture.
Too much time has been lost to dereliction of duty to the American people.
I don't care a rats ankle for the spectacle of politics. This is a national emergency being met by a failure of leadership at the Federal level.
Gov. Cuomo, you have the budget you have the power you can do this - take charge.
South Korea works with Kogene biotech, but there are others.
We must act now.
https://www.genomeweb.com/pcr/kogene-biotech-novel-coronavirus-test-gets-regulatory-approvals-korea#.Xm4hOXIpByx
49
@Socrates
Adult Governor like Cuomo ?
Puh-leeze.
He won't close the schools !!! How irresponsible is that ?
He's grandstanding plain and simple.
5
Governor Cuomo’s approach is a sound one that addresses some of the seriousness of what’s coming. There is little doubt that the US is days away from being in the same situation as Italy, France, Spain.
It’s beyond distressing that Trump only listens to horrifically unqualified people Ike Jared Kushner. Senate Leader McConnell has Constitutionally defined powers to do presidential oversight but he refuses to.
Congress needs to step up. There is a real risk that Trump will get the virus. Maybe it’s the extreme stress or he’s getting bad advice but he’s saying things that are just not true like that Google has 17,000 people working on the website. Congress should be making sure that Trump is making rational decisions.
43
@Javaforce
The fact that Trump is "saying things that are just not true" is actually a confirmation that he's as healthy as a horse.
Lying like a rug has been his hallmark personality trait for 50 years or more.
Trump's decisions have rarely been rational.
His decisions have always been predicated on self-glorification.
33
Only 1700 people at Google are working on the website.
@Javaforce You are asking too much from the mesmerized Republicans.
1
Aside from denying responsibility for pretty much everything, trump’s most abhorrent comment was taking credit for the sharp rise in the stock market on Friday.
It seems pretty obvious that the number of US coronavirus cases is artificially low because of the limited availability of test kits, despite trump’s promise, since walked back, that there are enough and anybody can get tested.
Thanks a Governor Cuomo for taking leadership in steps to slow or stop the spread of the coronavirus and working with municipalities to deploy the National Guard. That’s an action that builds confidence in fighting this scourge.
I agree. Deploy the military. Despite the dent the economy will take, close facilities and put restrictions in place to enhance social distancing measures. Even though most cases have been deemed mild, the elderly and immune-compromised may still suffer if they are exposed.
We will be better off if the outbreak can be slowed and the impact shortened. The politics have to omitted, starting with trump’s blame shifting and lies. The president must standup and lead, even if it costs him in blows to his ego. So far, he has failed all Americans. I don’t blame him for the coronavirus, but he bears responsibility for the lack of planning and unified response.
I hope it’s not too late.
104
This is a very good and sensible suggestion.
Therefore, it is unlikely to be implemented.
483
@Barbara Spot on. We're sort of at the "reaping what we sowed" moment. America's had its collective hands off the wheel for decades.
29
The fact that our governor must implore these actions from the President is terrifying evidence of the dearth of leadership from the top of our country.
Since the President cannot cope with a constructive agenda, I hope that there will be some forces that prevent him from his pattern of deleterious decision making.
336
@JayGee
Yes, and imagine at a time like this, finding it necessary to close with a reminder that this is not personal.
4
@CVP
Right you are. And then he would still go into a defensive tizzy, cede some territory, or provoke a war. And would that war be with our enemies or our allies?
1
@JayGee
You really want troops answerable to Trump deployed on American soil nation wide? Really? You trust him that much? You trust him at all?
1
Using defense $ to domestically mobilize our excellent US Army Corps of Engineers is a wonderful idea. The Corps is a great resource that should be put to immediate use. There is no downside to over-reaction here. Using defense $ to build the wall is divisive -- using those same $ to fight the virus is unifying. Let's go!
557
@Sports Medicine
Yup - get those priorities straight. A few thousand critical illnesses and deaths are not important compared to a useless wall that might prevent entry a few whose lives are endanger from terrorists. What does un-American mean now?
6
@Paul Who do you think you are talking to? If the state governors, I say good for you. If the guy in the WH, I ask, “what planet are you on?”
4
@B. Rothman I'm saying the Army Corps of Engineers is a great resource for this need. I'm saying Go Governors Go! I'm thinking the man-child in the WH is worse than useless. I certainly hope this galvanizes the realization that we need medicare for all (with a profit top-up if you want/can). I'm embarrassed that the wealthiest nation in the world cannot provide a good level of healthcare for all its citizens. I hope this train-wreck of a situation is a catalyst for positive change.
5