My partner’s an NYC public school teacher - her principal’s been asking for guidance from the city all day, but she and all of her colleagues are going into work tomorrow with NO plans, no instructions, just pure brainstorming.
6
Churches and places of worship need to be closed stat! We have already seen this spread extremely quickly through churches, such as in Korea. Many in the religious community also underestimate the grave danger this virus poses to their communities. We must do everything we can to slow the spread.
3
Why are there any casinos open in the United States ?
In this time of National Emergency, when there is almost no leadership at the national level, it falls on our governors to do the right thing, to earn their taxpayer-funded salaries rather than lobbyist generated campaign contributions.
If the right thing to do is to close down schools, how can one possibly justify leaving casinos open?
In some areas casinos are run by First Nations (a.k.a. Indian) peoples. Some tribes, such as the Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico, showing more sense of collective responsibility than some businessmen and governors, have closed down their own casinos. Others, acting in the tradition of other "only the dollars matter" Americans, have failed to do so. This poses legal sovereignty impediments for some governors. However, those governors have the power to close down roads leading to the casinos and should do so, immediately after closing down all non-Indian casinos.
5
I listen to 2 people and only these 2 people to hear the truth:
1) Dr Fauci
2) Cuomo
Everything else I tune out.
19
@Bob
You have one person too many in your list and it’s not the doctor.
8
The Governor has demonstrated great leadership. However, he now must push our inept CDC (or better yet, an excellent NYS lab) to begin serologic testing for COVID 19 antibodies. Apparently Singapore, in partnership with Duke University, has taken this important next step. Why not New York? Knowledge will save the economy, our schools, our businesses, our lives. Testing will tell doctors who has been infected and when the infection might have occurred. Serology is needed for mass screening. It may help with development of vaccines, or immune globulin. Of course, serology will help us know just when COVID 19 arrived on our soil, and this may embarrass the Trump Administration. But we still need to know the whole story.
6
@et.al.nyc
Great leadership would have been for the governor to have done everything he just did at least one week earlier. It was a careless to leave schools open and absurd to leave bars open as long as he did.
3
We need more aggressive tests. More drive-thru, and another new idea like glove wall with acrylic (at least medical staffs doesn’t need to wear hazmat level-d suit anymore).
We need masks for NYPD seriously. One of South Korea KAIST (korean MIT) prof. Kim made rewash-able mask that can wash up to 20times or 30 day. I’m bit thwarting and irate from President Trump’s tweet again. Sorry and be safe thx.
4
will credit card comps continue charging interest during the pandemic to profit off of the misery?
3
@Nate yup, business as usual.
1
Bergen County has closed most businesses and offices effective at 11pm tonight until further notice and limited public gatherings to four people. Exceptions are groceries, pharmacies, healthcare, liquor stores (gotta have alcohol!) and some other vital services. Frankly, for 42 "presumptive cases" (out of a population of over 900,000), shutting everything down seems like overkill considering the economic disruption this will cause.
Gotta be done Barry. Cases will double every 6 days if there are not measures taken. Do the math. Hospitals will get overwhelmed and people are going to die. We got clamp down as early as we can to spread it out
3
@Luckyleejones. How many people will die or suffer a worsening of their health because they lose health insurance along with their jobs because of these closures?
It appears that those at greatest risk from COVID-19 are elderly or have underlying health conditions. Perhaps they're the ones who should be "sheltering in place" and provided with necessary social services until this blows over rather than closing down an entire city, county or region. Many of them are retirees, so they're not at risk of losing jobs/health insurance and the smaller number of them makes it easier to provide intensive services to keep them safe.
Maybe government officials are taking the right steps, but I'd like to see an analytical debate of the pros and cons instead of them buckling under pressure to "just do something". There's no such thing as a free lunch and I'd like to know that officials know the true price of their actions.
3
Since his incompetence has caused so much delay, and thereby death, would it not be fitting to take by eminent domain Trump properties and repurpose them as hospices and morgues?
19
I don’t understand DeBlasio calling in all public school teachers for the next 3 days to now start to ‘prepare’ lesson packets for students to use at home.
The mayor’s attitude of not wanting to close the schools was so dogmatic he didn’t prepare for the eventual closing even though he could have for the last 2 weeks.
Now thousands of teachers will travel -most on public transportation- to start to ‘prepare’ for remote teaching.
Absolutely 0 foresight and planning. Shameful.
19
Curfews and many closings in NJ yet many NJ courts remain open.
To get to the courts often means taking public transportation and how many individuals needing to take public transportation are uninsured and may be transmitting the virus?
Shut it down Governor Murphy!
6
So if you work at a hospital or are sick but doesn’t own a car, what do you do?
@Jonathan
And I meant shut down the courts, not public transportation.
1
@Jonathan
The point is that going to court isn’t essential and they should shut down and stick to video proceedings.
Getting hospital workers to hospitals is a completely different story however hospital workers shouldn’t be at work if they’re sick, right?
1
A ray of sunshine amidst the gloom
85 percent of the cases are mild. That is an amazingly large number.
People under 30 are relatively unaffected, thank god for this.
The death rate is about 2 percent, probably lower because we simply can’t be sure how many people actually have it.
Quarantines and lockdowns are the ultimate weapon to stop epidemics, and always work.
The greatest scientists in the world are working on the problem. Everyday a new drug is found to be helpful, and most of these drugs have been in circulation for years and have few side effects. They just found a drug used to treat malaria that shows results, they will study this and learn why
Many Governors are stepping up and making the right decisions
Sooner or later the perfect mixture of drugs will be found.
This is not a nuclear war, food is plentiful, clean water is plentiful, when it is over there is nothing that has been totally lost.
Better ways to test will be found
This will prepared us for a even deadlier virus.
There is proof that the plasma of recovered patients can help fight the virus in others, these will undoubtably be improved on.
The ability of the body to fight a virus is absolutely amazing.
The only way not to succumb to fear is to take your mind off it, read a good book, watch your favorite TV show over and over. Play board games with your family. Read the Bible. Exercise, lose weight, eat less, eat healthy
This too shall pass.
41
@Lonnie
Let's just hope that these novel treatments are available and affordable for all.
4
This may get NYT post of the year:)
3
I see all these pictures of people getting tested in their cars. Has anyone addressed urban areas like Manhattan where almost no one has a car?
20
@Robert. I doubt it. People outside of NYC seem to forget how unique it is. Drive-through testing in Walmart parking lots just won't cut it.
2
The question is now the time for a lockdown, maybe for two weeks, to stop the spread in its tracks. After that, advanced testing, and all the other restrictions put in place should keep things under control. Wuhan showed how to do it, and I am sure the governor will follow their example.
i Think thry should try a soft lockdown first . Everybody stays home from work, except medical staff,dentists, etc. people can still walk their dogs or go out for walk, the transmission of the virus, though not impossible, is extremely dampened by being outdoors.
I still say people should stay out of grocery stores and all food delivered, the density of grocery stores is too dangerous, put an army of teenagers to work delivering food.
Amazon, Walmart, Bjs deliver food around the clock, plenty of newly unemployed people can be put to work.
This type of lockdown will slow the virus down. People will recover, the hospitals will learn exactly what to do, temporary facilities can be put in place .
I am sure the governors of New York, NJ and CT, are talking about it right now.
What does everybody feel about this?
11
@Lonnie
At a minimum, dog owners should stay in front of their own buildings to walk their dogs. No need to walk around the block and have your dog track the virus throughout the neighborhood. Plus I’m tired of cleaning up after inconsiderate owners who stare at their phones as their pooch takes a whiz on the sidewalk.
We don’t know enough about this new virus. It’s unclear whether dogs can get sick or transmit the virus.
3
@Lonnie. Too extreme. There are quite a few jobs in NYC that need to get done beyond healthcare and not all of them can be done remotely. Back-office operations of banks and brokerages, for example. Utility maintenance, repairs, laundry, etc.... Shutting down large gatherings of people may make sense, shutting down all business in the nation's economic capital does not.
1
@Barry Short
If this were an environmental crisis or a biological hazard, people would be ordered to Shelter-in-place for some amount of time.
1
tRUMP tells the Governors to find supplies on their own, buy on the market. FEMA ha s tons of these needed medical supplies stored all across the Country. It is their "Push Pack " program. The items are preloaded with medical equipment and drugs. It was designed for just an event like this. Someone should challenge tRUMP with this simple fact.
14
Why did it take NY so long to close its schools?
It took a couple of days for Dallas ISD to arrive at a firm decision and close our schools.
Are NY people that much dependent on its state government? Or does the state government want its people to think they are that much dependent on it?
Inquiring minds want to know.
4
@Bhaskar :
the NYT did a fairly long article on this subject a few days ago. Apparently there is a huge number of "homeless" kids who go to these schools and receive 3 meals a day there, plus routine medical care and even can have their laundry done there.
What that says to me is that the social safety net in the U.S. is clearly broken. Kids should not have to rely on the public school system for these things. Not that they don't deserve to have them, but other entities should provide them. Schools should be for learning.
30
A variety of reasons, including political ones, but you must understand that the vast majority of children who go to public school in the city are very poor, often homeless, our schools serve as more than just centers for learning, they provide up to 3 meals per day, laundry, health care, social support. Additionally there is little child care available in the city and poor parents have to work and cannot be home with their children. Perhaps if corporations paid more taxes or wages this would not be our lot, but there it is. It is indeed a very serious thing to close the schools .
20
@RLiss, @Peggy
I believe (or hope) this has a silver lining.
Maybe we will begin to cherish life, respect nature, and value people more than before.
And maybe we will finally put in a system that cares for our homeless and the poor.
I cannot wrap my mind around how we have kids that go to bed hungry on what is supposed to be the greatest place on this planet.
21
The Federal government needs to mandate that schools, non essential businesses close. Period. People can not be left to their own devices - they just do what they please as long as they don't think it will affect them personally. It's great that NY, CT, and NJ came together to try to create a cohesive plan, but this really should be happening everywhere to have the most impact. It's inevitable - the economy will be shot after this but right now we are all in crisis mode and that is just going to have to wait.
8
de Blasio was as tone-deaf today going to they gym -- after the closure of gyms was announced -- as he was going on his family vacation to Italy in 2014 in the immediate aftermath of the Eric Garner police choke-hold death.
A leader leads. I didn't go to the gym today -- although I could have before it closed down -- opting to use a home exercise device. No matter how much de Blasio may "need" exercise, there are options options (such as a short jog in Central Park) where he could have provided a positive example to New Yorkers, instead of another self-indulgent controversy.
26
NYC City Council needs to revisit the closure of Riekers Island and the new construction of the four new jails.
The ban on plastic bags needs to be overturned on a statewide basis.
5
@Vicki May I ask what the plastic bag ban has to do with this?
3
Vicki - the plastic bag ban is one of the smartest moves by our legislators last year.
We will all get used to not having disposable single-use plastic. And our planet will thank us.
3
Governor Cuomo needs to halt New York State's plastic-bag ban.
Reusable bags can spread the coronavirus and other germs.
Reusable bags are not machine washable in hot water and the store shelves are bare of disinfectants for wiping them down.
8
@tom Really? This is your thing? The plastic bag ban?
6
@tom A cheap canvas bag is washable in hot water. Not only that, but with your own bag you can bag your own groceries.
1
Given Trump’s hatred of New York, and in light of his past conduct in relevant respects, I would not be surprised if he found a way to deprive the state of the kind of aid he will give to red states.
17
I can’t help but feel that part of Trumps lack of support to blue states is vindictive!
21
@Minikin no doubt. any Democrat who is too sick to go and vote helps his chances. Thats a fact.
2
Failure to have testing ability during a raging epidemic will go down as the greatest blunder in US history. It will lead to as many deaths as WW2. Enough of the flu causes deaths annually story!
11
The cure can definitely be worse than the disease. The obvious thing to do here is to make it easy for senior citizens and those with immune system disorders to stay home and live safely, while having the rest of the world go about its business. The rest of the world get mild infections, with symptoms ranging from none to a cold to a moderate flu, depending on luck. Then there will be herd immunity, and we can go back to regular life. This panicked shutdown is iatrogenic. Keep the elderly etc. at home, with food delivered to them, and our emergency rooms will not be overwhelmed.
5
@Snowball Un-recommend this comment. The only way to do what you're recommending is to increase testing in a huge way - otherwise 'the rest of the world' will continue to spread the virus.
3
@Snowball This assumes that all that elderly people need is food delivered at their doorstep, but when we are dealing with populations with underlying medical conditions or aged over 70, this is simply unrealistic. The elderly often rely upon care from younger generations, and if we let the disease run rampant throughout all other generations, it will easily get back to them in their confinement and be just as deadly.
4
@Snowball I thought about this possibility, but basically it amounts to sacrificing a big percentage of our elderly. Are you willing to risk losing your parents / grandparents to this disease? If we let the disease run rampant, most of us will be ok as you point out, but eventually the elderly will catch it too, regardless of how you try to shield them. Once that happens, hospitals get overloaded and the old folks get sent home without care, just as they have been in Italy. But it would be even worse than Italy. Everyone would get it. 5-10 million would die, mostly the elderly. Better to hunker down and suffer an economic slowdown. We can beat this thing, then people can get back to their jobs.
1
The rubber has hit the road, Mr Trump.
I am one of those healthcare workers that expects you to start coordinating the task of obtaining supplies and equipment we need at my hospital. You are no longer in a position to point fingers, you are the one being pointed at. Quit making excuses and start coordination of resources. Not from your expert son in law, Jared, but from the public healthcare experts and local hospitals.
By the way, this is a situation where an accurate census is important to determine the needs of staffing, equipment and supplies for different regions of the country is key to preventing a worsening of this crisis.
Maybe you can give up some of your campaign war chest you collected last weekend at Mar a Lago and pay for some of the needed supplies.
24
@Jane K
That’s the job of your hospital CEO, who I guarantee makes over $1 million per year. It’s not the President’s job to make sure you have enough band aids.
2
@Matt Yeah and that is the problem. Health care should not be part of the for profit industry.
7
2 months ago Trump (after an irresponsible delay) finally imposed a travel ban forbidding entry to the US anyone who had been to China during the prior 14 days, also quarantine of Americans returning from China.
The European countries, the UK, and Canada all undermined the US travel ban by refusing to impose similar bans themselves. Instead they clung to their politically correct "openness" and welcomed travelers from China despite that some of them would bring this deadly disease for which there is NO CURE, NO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, and NO VACCINE. Those nations all fancy themselves as progressive, as humanitarian.
Now they are paying the deadly price of their political correctness. The virus is raging there. It has become so bad that now Germany, Italy, and France (perhaps others by now) have finally completely closed their borders in both directions. Their left wing political humanitarianism has become left wing authoritarian control of everyone.
And we are facing the same deadly price soon to be paid because they undermined us and because Trump failed to promptly close our borders to all foreigners from anywhere when Europe and Canada undermined us.
4
@Errol The disease was out before any travel restrictions were enacted.
10
@Paul '52:
You are certainly correct. But the cases were very few and there was still good chance that concerted effort and effective tracing might have isolated and contained it.
3
@Errol I'm in New Zealand. The virus is contained here (as it has been in other countries) and we were not less affected than the US by the actions of the European governments than you were. You need to find the correct place to put the blame.
Also, it is raging just as much in the US as it is in Germany and France. You are just a few days behind.
3
So with the gym being closed, I suppose I'll start walking for my daily exercise.
3
Funny thing. Apparently the mayor went to the gym today. Shaking my head.
Governor Cuomo hit it out of the park this morning with his patient and heartfelt description of the realities we must face in the short term and beyond. He had some good ideas, and demonstrated real leadership.
For the entire time he has been in office, Donald Trump has been obsessively focused on slash-and-burn deregulation, paying lip-service to American ideals, and virtue-signalling to the base, instead of even attempting real leadership. To him, it is a punchline.
Now, faced with a global crisis, we are left completely under-prepared. Where once we were able to lead in such times as these, we are adrift as a nation.
It will be the local actions of governors such as Cuomo who make the difference in the immediate sense; for our long-term safety and general welfare, we must kick the petulance of Trump to the curb and move forward as a nation.
57
I was incredibly grateful to have him as our governor today.
28
This from today in another paper : “METRO
Bill de Blasio hits public gym, flouting coronavirus rules amid city shutdown”. Where’s the outrage? Oh, yeah , sorry I forgot, he is a Democrat. Never mind, only Trump is at fault....for everything bad in the universe.
15
@Roger There is outrage Roger. Trust me. For everyone, but most local and state officials.
17
@Roger
de Blasio has never been someone NYers are proud of, but block voter groups kept him in office.
He should CLOSE ALL NY PORTS to cruise ships but he hasn't gotten around to doing many things like ordering manicure shops to close down.
6
@Roger Many of us (Democrats) have long been outraged with him. His (non) response to this crisis is the last drop. Thank god the YMCA is closing its branches. Hopefully, it will finally hit him this is extremely serious.
10
The Governor is doing a fine job, but I worry about my fellow New Yorkers , especially those under 30 who are sending a certain level of invincibility in this crises. On Sunday at Orchard Beach there was a massive gathering of cars, that the police had to break up.this took the police from more important duties, and speaks to a larger question. Are we the same nation we were during ww2, can we unite the way we did for that crises, or are some people going to be hindering the process and going their own way. The action you saw at Orchard Beach will lead to the kind of self imprisonment you are seeing in Spain. I for one don’t want to be locked up in my apartment because of idiots , but I guess that’s what happened in Spain, to many idiots who just will not take it seriously, or just don’t care about their fellow humans.
Are we truly one united people? this will be put to the test , in this new world war, which is against an enemy that just doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, white or black, Asian or Spanish. We all have to be on the same side , and do what we can to defeat Corona virus and the main thing we can do...if we want to help ...is to not get sick and bring it back to our community.
It’s true that people under 30 are weirdly immune but even though they get mild symptoms they can bring it back and infect older people, people who will have to go to the hospital and strain the health care system.
If we get locked in , blame the stupid.
21
@Lonnie For too long, our society tolerates even encourages this kind of behavior. Now we have to deal with it.
5
You can’t fix selfish.
10
He looks sick and sounds ill.
5
What? 50 people gathering are not allowed to get the virus?
3
Is recommendation enough? I know young people who will ignore it. Should we just enforce it? How about starting with $1,000 fine and double it every time you break the rule? If you can't afford the fine, then 3 months in jail
8
Send all nonessential employees in the State of NY, Conn, NJ private and public sector home. Close mass transit to all except essential employees! What are governors and mayors waiting for?
4
One thing that every American should do in response to Trump's "non leadership" role, is to vote him out of office!
26
It is apparent that Cuomo would never, ever be satisfied with t he presidents actions. Can we all agree on that?
2
@M. Valentine
No, M. Valentine. I don't agree.
3
Governor Cuomo shows leadership... the type of leadership we are sorely lacking at the presidential levers.
33
The statistics are misleading... community transmission is happening now at a much larger scale than is being reprted.
20
I'm glad New York is taking strong actions. In a way, I feel much safer today than I did a week ago merely because I know this is being taken seriously. Unfortunately, with a 2 week incubation period and people still out at bars and restaurants this weekend, I fear we're in for at least 6 weeks, if not longer, of serious increase in cases and an overburdening of our health care system. Every time I hear a siren it spikes my anxiety... My other big concern is food security. With grocery stores wiped out this week, and as we're being told to avoid crowds, ideally we'd all get food delivered. But food delivery services are all booked. Can we please get a plan in place before this situation gets worse?
16
@Emily From what I'd heard...at least recently... they were suggesting there'd be no reason to worry about food shortages at our local markets...that supply chains should not be impacted. I think we just need to get over this current, immediate spike in 'food hoarding'. Once certain of us feel they have enough for the next few weeks, stores will have restocked and the customer demands tapering off to closer-to-normal levels, and once folks understand the supply chain can continue as usual.
8
In the mid ‘70s, when NYC had major problems, the federal government didn’t help. The famous headline read:
FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD
now we have the president telling governors the same thing. What will tomorrow’s headline be?
TRUMP TO AMERICA: DROP DEAD
40
Regarding today's CV19 press conference, Birx just invoked the community response to the AIDS epidemic as a model to replicate now.
That was really brave of her. The "community" that responded to the AIDS crisis was the GLBTQI community, and the way it finally got (foot-dragging) action on the part of the government was through demonstrations, civil disobedience, and public theater.
I'm thinking that MAYBE Birx is signaling Millennials to get active.
8
If you are lucky, as am I, to have stable income and which will likely not be impacted by this situation... If you are lucky, as am I, to have good health insurance.... please think about all the minimum-wage workers in your life...the barista who made your coffee each day...the nail technician you go to each week...the cleaning lady who comes once a month...the entrepreneurs and freelancers you know, and whose jobs may dry-up.
If you have a more or less close relationship with them...and where it feels right or natural...reach out. Show your concern...ask what's going to happen to their job...to their work...if they have insurance... will they need childcare help?...some financial help here and there? Do what you can. We are all in this together.
#AdoptAminimumWageWorker
20
Here's something I have been thinking about .. what about all the places that are war torn, near failed states, hard to access etc. Syria, the millions of refugees, Iraq, Mexico, all the migrants, El Salvador, Yemen, parts of Africa, you get the idea. How are these people to get tested let alone helped. I don 't know but it seems near impossible to contain ....
6
Praying is your best tonic. There is hope in our faith alone.
3
@Langhamkw
Wonder why prayer has not saved a single patient of this thing, nor stopped the spread.
I would say that safety measures, washing hands, planning for what might come and be vigilant and careful works better than happy thoughts.
87
Faith is a sort of tonic for the mind but not at all efficacious in controlling disease. God also helps those who help themselves; He gave some people the brains to become scientists and physicians, and it would be well to heed their advice.
(I capitalize "He" from long literary habit and not for religious reasons.)
10
@AutumnLeaf Yes indeed, and why were all the church services cancelled on Sunday...these would seem to be the most prayer protected places on the planet. Still waiting for that miracle.
6
I was not aware that the virus could discern between groups greater than fifty and groups less than 50 people.
14
Thank God most governors see it correctly: that we are up against a biological entity with a life of its own. The doctors get that. Lots of people still don't.
Viruses can't do anything on their own, they have to hijack a cell. They are little molecular robots mindlessly following biological and statistical rules.
They, as a biological reality, are completely impervious to argument, spin, denial, happy talk - and American Exceptionalism. Trump's words mean less than nothing.
This is why science denialism/denigration is so dangerous. The same is true of climate change but it's slow enough to be hard to see.
Universal rules of nature are at play here, folks. Anyone foolishly betting against Mother Nature is going to lose in the end.
14
So are the DJT ‘resorts’ being closed as well? Dinner at a Trump property anyone? Would not the responsible thing to do be shutting down Mara Lago and the rest of them until the weather turns warmer and the “miracle” happens? Meanwhile making sure that all of those loyal employees get paid time off?
24
@David :
I read today that Mar a Lago is shut and being "deep cleaned"....(probably by illegal immigrants who will soon be deported).
3
Why are there any casinos open in the United States ?
In this time of National Emergency, when there is almost no leadership at the national level, it falls on our governors to do the right thing, to earn their taxpayer-funded salaries rather than lobbyist generated campaign contributions.
If the right thing to do is to close down schools, how can one possibly justify leaving casinos open?
In some areas casinos are run by First Nations (a.k.a. Indian) peoples. Some tribes, such as the Pojoaque Pueblo in New Mexico, showing more sense of collective responsibility than some businessmen and governors, have closed down their own casinos. Others, acting in the tradition of other "only the dollars matter" Americans, have failed to do so. This poses legal sovereignty impediments for some governors. However, those governors have the power to close down roads leading to the casinos and should do so, immediately after closing down all non-Indian casinos.
11
@Steve Fankuchen As a New Mexican I can tell you we are surrounded by casinos owned and operated by Native American pueblos. If they close our state's gambling addicts will withdraw painfully. But it is a dire necessity as so many casino goers are over 60, smokers, and in generally poor health.
4
I wish the state would provide more information on its positive cases. Other countries and even other states are providing demographic info on each patient and even severity of each case. Gov. Cuomo has at least mentioned how many are hospitalized or in the ICU at each of his daily pressers, but today he actually did not mention the updated number of ICU cases. I think people would appreciated being more informed in a detailed and consistent manner to get a better picture of what is going on.
18
The USA is trial testing for a vaccine today, but it will take months to know whether or not it has been successful. You can't rely on China to discover a vaccine as they don't like the USA; even if they had one they wouldn't make it known as they want to be top world superpower.
I also just heard on radio some expert from the world health organisation say that it is a myth that children don't die from the virus as there have been deaths of children who caught the virus.
10
@CK :
I've read the youngest person to die from COVID-19 was a 21 year old Spanish soccer coach.
1
While there is an official ban on gathering in groups of 50 or more, everyone should try to avoid any group gatherings at all. Also, the practice of standing six feet apart from anyone else should be much more widely employed.
The governments can make various pronouncements, but it is really up to all of us to do the best we can to prevent the spread of the virus. In the end, we aren't likely to know which procedures worked the best but we will know the virus has been defeated or that it defeated itself by running its course, as viruses generally do on their own according to medical experts.
If the lethality rate turns out of be around 1 percent of those infected and half the US population winds up catching the virus, there could be deaths close to 1.7 million people. We don't know, of course, how many would be infected but the goal is to reduce the numbers greatly while there is still an opportunity to do so.
Every day that goes by without a reduction of infection spread is a day that cannot be reclaimed. This is why radical steps are required and, also, because we lost weeks of precious time while the disease was being downplayed by a careless president of the US.
13
@Doug Terry when someone asked Cuomo about the issue of holding meetings of more than X number of people in a room his response was, "well then find a bigger room." I don't know which one of them is using the brain this week but wow!
NOW the mayor says to the teachers , "We need you". We get no word of appreciation from this mayor EVER! Never does a "thank you" for a job well done pass his lips. The first responders are the heroes of this city and they deserve all the respect and admiration they get, they are indeed on the front lines. But we are here every day (yes, even on the heavy snow days!) for the students, it is a labor of love for those kids! I am tired of the problems of this city being balanced on our backs. Do your job Mr. Mayor, solve these problems! And when we do our part to assist, say thank you! We are not some otherworldly breed that is impervious to illness, physical or mental. We have families too and we attract and bring home all sorts of nasty stuff. This is scary business and we are as exposed as everyone else. We work very hard albeit in a different way than first responders but we are NOT first responders.
15
"We need a massive federal relief program,” he said.
How about a massive "Billionaires Giving It Back" program? How about those precious few who have had a 30 year financial bonanza at the expense of the working families of America chipping in? I don't relish simultaneously seeing opportunities for my children shrink, while saddling them with even more massive amounts of debt!
107
@Otter Hear hear!
5
Well Sanders is proposing a marginal tax on Wall Street transactions to pay for community college or vocational education for all our young people
1
@Otter :
Amazon, owned by the richest man in the world and very probably the richest man in the history of the world, pays NO TAXES.
1
Governor Cuomo should ask the cruise industry to dock a ship in the NY Harbor. It is an ideal "hospital" in a pinch. Use it for patients who are not critically ill but require nursing care, oxygen, fluids and antibiotics. The larger ship should have at least 1000 rooms and housing for healthcare providers as well. This will free up hospitals in the NYC area to care for all critically ill.
Retired physicians and nurses could take care of the "ship" patients whose illness acuity are less than those in traditional hospitals.
40
@KA
It will certainly be up to them, but remember that retired doctors and nurses are in a higher risk group by age. Only the healthiest should step up - but they know that.
14
@KA That's a terrible idea. Once a floating petri dish, always a floating petri dish. And thanks for offering up us medical professional retirees who also would not do well in a petri dish. Retrofit all the dorms. They are at least spread out geographically.
8
@KA
What I am hearing instead is that Cruise ships are docking and unloading passengers on the West Side of Manhattan as if our elected officials are brain dead.
1
Mayor deBlasio is absolutely clueless. We need a mayor who actually wants to do the job and shows up early at the office, not mid-morning after his gym workout.
Way too many clueless people out on the streets today.
54
@Vicki He doesn’t get it. If he hasn’t been tested, he could be a carrier and therefore could spread the virus to others who work at the Y. Even the mayor of NYC can be stupid apparently.
13
Let’s hope pulling together out of this crisis finally proves to the the Republican naysayers that government does work when you stop throwing monkey wrenches into it.
13
@Bags Sadly, it is very likely that the Republican states of America will delay and resist the measures necessary to defeat the spread of the virus.
Fortunately, we have an excellent Republican governor in Maryland, Hogan, who is not resisting the advice of medical experts. Schools are closed, colleges have gone on spring break and will be taught online. Bars and restaurants are closed as of 5 PM today to anything by drive through or carry out business.
We received a report from Myrtle Beach, SC, this morning that indicated things are very different there: it is spring break, the place is crowded, restaurants and bars jammed and almost no one is worried about social distancing. Party on? Yes, until the music stops.
9
Have any directives been issued for churches, religious gatherings in NYC / NY State?
4
Sure: pray harder.
4
@SP
Give, give till it hurts.
2
At the end of 2019, in Wuhan, as later on in Italy, and then throughout Europe, there had been an undervaluation of the Coronavirus threat: the first restrictive measures had to be increased: one after the other.
It was just an unconsciously human misconception: a virus can’t disrupt the way of life. It did.
In Italy now – where on Sunday 15 March were registered 366 deaths – you can go out only by yourself and with an auto declaration where you have to specify one of four precise and valid reasons for not getting a penalty, going from a $200 fine to 6 month jail. Here is the form
https://www.interno.gov.it/sites/default/files/allegati/modulo_autodichiarazione_10.3.2020.pdf
All Italians have complied: in case of necessity they are very united.
Now, in these three USA States, although the ban - better than nothing - is to be welcome, an allowed gathering of 50 persons, still confirms that human beings, until they suffer the brunt, prefer avoiding to foresee a stark reality.
For example, homeless and jail detainees should be addressed too on time, virus testing the persons in the first category and then putting them in adeguate shelters, while in the second category, guards, that go in and out should undergo medical checking.
Neil Amstrong and Buzz Aldrin, while landing on the Moon in 1969, had seen the landing automatic procedure going awry.
Before the crash, Neil, in a blink of an eye, coldly went on manual and landed safely.
America can do it again.
8
At this rate of increase in New York City (35%) the number of cases will nearly doubling in two days. By Friday, NYC would have 1,472 cases, 20% of which will be severe, and 5% critical. How many hospital beds are ready for that number of new cases in the days and weeks to come? In metro areas like NYC and Seattle, closing down and isolating ourselves likely should have already happened. But NYC seems to be in for the worst of it.
15
Trump's administration is so incompetent that my state, NY, and NJ are spearheading the shutdown that the USA will ultimately need.
These are unthinkable times.
59
@Emma If this ever happens we'll surely invite NY and NJ!
https://www.facebook.com/NEIndependence/. :)
1
I don't understand how Idris Elba, who just tested positive but had no symptoms, gets tested when people who are symptomatic can't get a test.
67
@Cheryl What's to understand? He has money and connections to make it happen, we don't.
9
@Chery Simple, Cheryl, he’s British.
24
It's very clear by now that Trump doesn't know what to do, how to do it, and is not a trusted leader for more than 1/2 this nation. Look for the US military to start taking the lead on this as they still have some shred of credibility left in this administration.
15
Exercise is among our first line of defense against infections. Exercise boosts the immune system, reduces stress, helps control hypertension and diabetes.
Gyms can be made safe by limiting the number of clients at any one time, requiring patrons to wipe down the equipment they use before and after with virucide products.
4
@Rene Balcer I think it's safe to walk without touching anything. Working out at home isn't too hard either. It seems simpler than staying 6 feet away from someone in a gym.
11
Why just the NYC metropolitan area?
Why not everywhere?
Or at least most big cities?
5
@Janak
Tip O'Neill: All politics is local.
5
Well, since it takes only 1 person to infect others, I suppose 1 in 50 is a tiny bit better than 1 in 100, but why tell people that 1 in 50 is OK? It might minimally "reduce the density" but it surely exposes me personally to 50 people who might have the virus. Since we have no community surveillance testing, all 50 of those people could be infected. Abort the "crowd of 50" advice and tell people they must stay home!
16
Gatherings of 2 is dangerous; 50 is deadly.
22
Could you announce this stuff after market close?
Will New Yorkers still be allowed to walk in the park? I would think walking there, even without Corona, is the epitome of social distancing. Plus, children can't stay in the house 24/7.
11
@Mal Stone So far, still allowed. We were at Prospect Park this morning - a lot of people but yes, spread far apart. Hope that option doesn't go away because it's the only way, it seems to me, to get some fresh air and physical activity in safe way at this point. Of course we will abide by any formal instruction to avoid parks if it comes to that.
And yes, the option feels like a godsend right now to help keep our toddler from tearing up our tiny apartment :) Stay safe and well!
15
@SP
Thanks SP. you too. I use the gym for weights but love running in the park. Good for all our mental health.
3
@Mal Stone I agree. All I can think is 'gosh, would it seriously come to limitations on our ability to go outside, for a walk....?' Though that said, I suppose then that even a necessary walk to the market or pharmacy will ultimately feel like a 'walk in the park', if only because we've left the confinement of our homes.
I was wondering still... why would Italy etc., tell folks that they can't even go outdoors (except to buy essentials)? But I suspect it's because they knew that, so long as folks could freely walk around, it would then be very difficult to control so many people and prevent them from congregating, conversing with one another, etc. So I guess they had to err on the side of caution and say 'no one goes out (except for necessities)'.
4
'Everyone in NYC should act as if they have been exposed to coronavirus.
Well that's not creepy at all.
The worst part, is we have no clue who has and who has not been infected.
And they might just be right, maybe the majority of us are already hit with this and don't even know it.
I will continue to show up to work, eat lunch at a local hole in the wall and help my local business for as long as I can.
We did it in 2001, we can do it again.
This is not over.
3
@AutumnLeaf
"I will continue to show up to work, eat lunch at a local hole in the wall and help my local business for as long as I can.
We did it in 2001, we can do it again."
No, that's not the right or prudent action. This is not 9/11.
71
@AutumnLeaf No more lunch at your local hole in the wall. You can only order food to go. How on earth will the entire population of Manhattan find places to eat their food? Eat outside? Take it back to the office>
17
@AutumnLeaf There was no outbreak of disease in 2001. These are not parallel situations. You should be staying home.
46
I want NY NJ and CT to form a country. Add the rest of New England if those states want. Then we may have a chance at surviving, physically and democratically.
122
@jerseyjazz
Ditto out here with CA, OR and WA. All reasonably enlightened states...
4
@jerseyjazz right on
4
Yes! P.S. I love L.A. (cue the Randy Newman song).
The reaction is totally insane and destructive. We are destroying our society.
Our response to the virus is far more dangerous than the virus.
7
@Garrett Light How do you suggest state governments respond to slow down the spread?
15
I think his point is that slowing the spread is not the only thing to weigh in the balance. Starting a nationwide depression to save several thousand lives is not a no brainer.
And before you reply to say that is a heartless thing to say, consider other sources of death that we as a society knowingly allow to go unchecked even though the cost of stopping them is far less. 500,000 people die from cigarette smoke in the US every year, including tens of thousands from second hand smoke. Cumulatively, millions have died over the years. But we don't even ban cigarettes.
So it is not crazy to ask whether giving up people's livelihoods, food security, life savings, and basic rights, proportionate to the risk we are addressing. Maybe it is but a lot of people don't even seem to be weighing the costs.
7
@Garrett Light I agree wholeheartedly with you. Taking extra cautions in such a pandemic is important, but more important is the mental & emotional hardiness & resilience that can only come without exaggerated fears & fear responses that actually diminish people's capacity to fight against this nasty virus. New Yorkers need to gave some semblance of normalcy to destress from this absurd pandemic if fear. This dreadful panic response & shutting down of life may do more harm than the virus itself.
3
A lot of opinions now that shutting NYC schools are depriving children who depend on the school lunches, depriving working parents who need their children in school while they work. New York is a rich city, the mayor’s wife heads NYC Thrive, an organization with an $850 million budget. All those buying $95 million dollar penthouses, donate. NYC Thrive - divert your budget, in the name of increasing mental health, to providing lunches and day care for your needy children.
35
Look at what Italy and China needed to do to stop the spread. We are still taking a mild approach to this virus. I don’t think these measures are strict enough. It’s going to be a loooong bumpy ride.
Ironically, the dumber our government, the lower the stocks go, which increases my millennial buying power. I’m not saying it’s good, but I am saying I will capitalize on this terribly managed crisis.
16
We need a trillion dollar plus federal program ASAP to “bail out” the millions of people who will lose their jobs and the businesses that will close. The federal government needs to help people pay their bills and reassure them they will be taken care of.
This is a national and international crisis that requires an unprecedented response from all levels of government. But the federal government’s is critical.
I do not need to say how awful it is that we have the president and administration that we have. Maybe, somehow, they will rise to the occasion.
6
So are the speed. Cameras still working now that the schools are closed
@EAH They should, technically ( "speed camera
violations from 6 AM – 10 PM, Monday through Friday, year round" ). And schools are distribution points for grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches.
@EAH
Despite the official policy pronouncements when they were installed, I would drive as if the are still working. If you know where your usual ones are (I do, except when they sneak in a new one), drive accordingly.
2
Picture of Cuomo press conference shows pols and other officials shoulder-to-shoulder, just more bad modeling regarding what should be pronounced social distancing. For heavens sake, set an example!
DeBlasio is just tone deaf and resistant to reality. Schools should have been closed days ago and his resistance to closing bars and restaurants has been epic. Then he closes bars and restaurants ... but not until Tuesday. Why? So there can be "one last" orgy of bar hopping tonight? Gutless.
Finally, anyone who thinks you can wave a magic wand and quickly conjure up distance learning in a public school system like NYC's clearly has no idea of the technological, educational and equity issues involved.
13
what are your ideas Tony?
1
I have a fever and symptoms of COVID-19 in Westchester county. I cannot get through to my doctor's office (busy signal) and I cannot get through to the Westchester Dept of Health (rings for 5 min then disconnects). 211 hotline operator confirmed that New Rochelle drive thru testing site is only for New Rochelle residents. I don't know where to go to get tested without exposing myself to this novel coronavirus if I don't have it, or exposing others to it if I do. Anyone reading this please contact Governor Cuomo's office to demand drive thru testing be set up across NY State.
25
@R
What about going to a hospital ER? PDQ?
3
If it weren’t so serious, it would be a joke Cuomo directing legislators back to ALBANY because government must function. If government functioned we wouldn’t be in this mess. Government is supposed to perform functions that individuals cannot perform for themselves. It seems the big answer is self quarantine For this we pay taxes. Bernie is right time for a revolution.
6
I'm glad that state and local governments are finally stepping up to fill the leadership vacuum. Better them than the Russians.
4
We're all expecting news and guidance, and our fearless leader just ran to hide in his safe space.
That's Democratic Party leadership right there.
1
It 's time to figure out my home gym routine.
8
I’m listening to DiBlasio speak like a leader - talking about the issue, what is being done, what citizens need to do, why this is happening.
Wow. If only we had a president that could speak and direct an nth of a degree this well. Sadly, no. And people will die because of it.
5
@S H
Thanks, Chirlane (McCray). We put one over on them; no one will ever think it's you!
2
He goes to the gym in the midst of this and wonders why no one is taking it seriously
16
Elected officials have a duty to serve as an example . Boo hoo de Blasio . I miss the gym too. It's part of my routine too. Shame on you.
14
The only major sporting event still running: Trump v. de Blasio in the narcissism Olympics.
20
@Peter
You left out Prince Andrew. Not a good idea; he's vindictive.
4
It's "do as I say, not as I do" once again for de Blasio. Nothing new.
10
Panicking won’t save a soul. That’s what our leaders don’t seem to convey. No confidence.
4
Why would WeWork continue to keep all of their buildings open even with confirmed cases in multiple buildings? When all the evidence says that staying home is the best answer I would like to know why companies like this are beyond any regulation and can keep their staff and others in harms way? We have heard a million times that it doesn't matter if you don't feel sick, it's about who you can affect, why keep yourself in the line of fire for no reason?
14
My worry is food. The grocery chains in northwest NJ are practically cleared out of food. What are we to do in order to continue eating? What is being done to control hoarding/stockpiling? A fatal case of virus is not the only potential cause of death; starvation is too.
16
@nelson9 Some of it is a matter of restocking. Stores are now closing earlier/opening later so that store staff (bless them) can restock. Some stores are indeed limiting purchases of certain items so others don't hoard or stockpile. Out here, independent "farm stores" are better stocked since they are, with many items, their own supply chain (even, e.g., having stored surplus apples, corn, etc. from last season).
13
@nelson9 My understanding is that currently, this is not an area to worry about. I'd read that there is nothing to indicate that supply chains will be negatively impacted. People are simply panicking and buying up food and household supplies, faster than the stores can receive supplies and restock. Once the frenzied panic subsides and folks understand the stores will continue to receive and stock supplies, the empty shelves situation should level off.
6
I’ll add that in my area, the stores are in drastically better shape than they were over the weekend, with fewer shoppers and more food and supplies.
4
I have been posting for two years or more that we have no functioning federal government.
Now it’s not an opinion or a feeling... it’s a fact.
United we stand, divided we fall. We are dependent on our state and local governments.
How could the American people have been so complacent and irresponsible as to elect people who don’t or won’t serve them.
Well, this is a painful lesson indeed.
62
@Garrett Light Agreed 100%. I've been thinking about this a lot for years well. Reagan's statement "The government is the problem" signaled a slow, dragged out death for the institution that holds America together.
34
The financial turmoil caused by closing businesses, telling people to stay home, school closings , empty subways, buses, airplanes, trains, deserted stadiums, theaters, restaurants, stores—all the myriad potential disasters for businesses, both large and small, could be ameliorated by a month-long moratorium on debt. Rents, mortgages, loan payments, everything would have to be erased for thirty days, as if a page had been torn from a ledger. This would only work if it had top to bottom participation, and probably only if it were mandatory. Determining the range of inclusion in a 30-day moratorium and how it would be enforced is for someone more knowledgeable about economics than I am.
I know this is as naive a proposal as De Sica's "Miracle in Milan" fantasy movie, but if ever Italy and the rest of the world needed a miracle it is now.
28
I watched Gov. Cuomo today, and finally, finally, some one was telling the truth, not sugar coating it, and talking about how draconian the measures can get. While he made the point that most recover, he made the point - and told people this is downright scary - that we have 18-19 million people, and only 53000 beds, only about 3000 critical care beds available in the state. At this point we are in it alone, with no guidance or logistical support from the feds.
We need to be responsible, and put aside selfishness for a few months. The economic fallout is going to be very bad, as are the health implications.
84
@Cathy He also said that it was OK to go out in a crowd of 50 people, which is absolutely ridiculous. Since we have no community surveillance testing, all of those 50 people could be infected. Aside from Trump, all our government officials that have refused to early on require self isolation have caused deaths and a spiraling of the infection. They have blood on their hands.
8
We won’t get any help from any government run by Donald Trump because he reserves aid for red states only.
2
trump tweet today:
'Everybody is so well unified and working so hard. It is a beautiful thing to see. They love our great Country. We will end up being stronger than ever before!'
What has he done besides try to grab credit for what states and industry have been doing to help? WHAT?
138
@say what Soap opera.
3
@say what
Inidividual-1's operational definition of "We" is "Me and my boys." You and I are not part of this "we."
11
Trump is not the President. He is the Emperor
and the emperor has no clothes on.
25
It seems to me that the big deal about covid-19 is not going to be the deaths. For example, in NY state so far, there are 7 deaths out of 950 known cases, or about 0.7%, similar to the regular flu's lethal rate. But, with 950 known cases, there are probably at least that many unknown cases, asymptomatic and mild, making that death toll more like 0.3%, negligible.
The big deal is going to be the economic catastrophe. In NYC, engine of NY state's economy, 1 out of 11 jobs is involved with tourism. Tourism is falling to near zero. Closing down the thousands of bars and restaurants without giving them financial support is going to kill a lot of small businesses, and put a lot of working-class people out of work. Theatre, movie theatres, retail, sidewalk businesses, and nearly every aspect of our interpersonal commerce is going to be hit. Half a million jobs lost in the city is going to trickle down to everyone.
The virus itself is of no real concern; if 1% of Americans died and it wasn't headline news, we really wouldn't notice, because it happens every year without fail, and we don't notice. What is of concern is that the panicky, poorly coordinated response to the virus is going to trigger another Great Depression. Good luck to everyone, and remember, if you voted for Trump, you deserve this.
76
@Dan Stackhouse Sorry, I do not agree. If 1% of 160 million people died in three months, you would notice. That's under the conservative assumption of 50% infection.
You're right that the economic depression will be devastating, and that Trump and Fox News have a lot to answer for.
33
@Dan Stackhouse
"The virus itself is of no real concern; if 1% of Americans died and it wasn't headline news, we really wouldn't notice,"
What a callous attitude. 1% of all Americans dying would be more than three million people.
41
@Dan Stackhouse Wait.. the overreaction, closing things down that really don't need to close... is coming f from the other side! As you pointed out, the fatality rate will likely be around the same as the flu. I didn't vote for Trump, but I wouldn't try to pin this on him.
I pin it on the media's 'exaggerated-peril-to-get-ratings' routine.
3
What steps are being taken for the landlords of the bars, restaurants and retail to cut their rents?
21
These succinct and responsible rulings in Ecuador set for tomorrow....must be some advantages to managing a small country
Ecuador National rulings
1. From Tuesday 17 at 6 am the movement of vehicles is prohibited. One can only go out to buy food and basic necessities, go to work, and take care of older adults.
2. Police and armed forces will control compliance with these measures
3. Commercial activity that exceeds the capacity of 30 people per establishment is suspended, except for pharmaceutical outlets, financial services, pet food, health centers
4. All kinds of crowds to be avoided
5. Priorities given to older adults in health centers
6. CNT (national internet) opening the premium signal, fixed internet duplication and 50% increase in Gb
7. During the month of March communication services will not be cut
8. Classes suspended (teachers and students at home) until April 5
9. Telecommuting promoted
10. No basic service (water, electric) cuts will be made
11. Workers must reach an agreement with their respective managers, without dismissal
12. Tax payments will be divided into 6 months
13. Banks must give flexibility for debt payments
14. Taxes for emergencies such as drugs are eliminated
16
@Que Viva! This is what must be done.
2
@whitebear Yes, neat how they address even taxes, bank debts, utilities, workers comp and communications. Government for the people!
2
Finally! some coordination, concrete action plans, and information from higher levels of government! Just wondering if Mike Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, or Bill Gates are interested in committing some billions to building hospitals, containment centers, guaranteeing the supply chain. Where are the billionaires when you need them? I'm all ears for that announcement.
53
@Clarity They ought to pay the right part of taxes. Rights not charity.
17
@Clarity
Bill and Melinda Gates are funding Coronavirus research and it is producing results:
https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/belgium-all-news/100317/belgian-scientists-move-closer-to-coronavirus-treatment-antibody-vaccine-biotechnology-rega-institute-ugent/
God bless them.
16
@Clarity Bill Gates is providing free at home testing to Seattle residents. https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/coronavirus-at-home-test-kits-bill-gates-foundation-seattle-area/?fbclid=IwAR2um0Jyf1rnBIlCcwviNe5aQgDAXGyKdaHdilIRymz3l7F0PMaJpWARpv0&__twitter_impression=true
6
We need more companies to set up deliveries. Walgreen's can stay open, as both a pharmacy and a grocery, but it doesn't offer delivery. That's one example from my neighborhood. More people can stay home if deliveries are available. This could also help with stockpiling; such companies can limit the number of items (such as toilet paper) and be able to offer product to more people as shipments arrive.
18
@Diane Stop and Shop has stopped delivery service out here. Great point about stockpiling/delivery could control that.
5
Are all NYC employees still required to go to work? Are they all “essential” workers? Are they being given masks, disinfectants, gloves? Are they being offered testing for the virus, or is each department waiting for someone to test positive before suspending operations?
DeBlasio was reluctant to close schools despite the risks of contributing to the spread of the Coronavirus by keeping them open. He finally succumbed to pressure. Is the risk less for the thousands of city employees who work in offices around the city? Does he have double standards? It seems that he does not consider going to his gym a risk, but tells everyone else to stay away. A bit Trumpian, don’t you think?
10
@Amigo As a city worker I can tell you that my agency is still requiring us to go to work. Those who can't work from home will probably stagger shifts (not sure how that will help). We have not been given masks or disinfectants or gloves and we still get to ride on the subways!
15
@CityWorker
Where is DC37 and its member unions in this? Are they advocating for you?
Are DC37 offices still open, or have they “teleworking” to avoid getting the virus at their place of work?
Would love to know.
3
There's a Y at 47th & 2nd, why doesn't de Dumbio go to that one?
14
@droopyd Because Park Slope. deDumbio, indeed.
5
Going to the gym that's about to be closed for health protection is simply reckless - besides being a distraction when there is a lot on the table. If there is a reason to close gyms, it should be clear that beating the deadline is not an example of good leadership. He should travel there by subway.
26
@Harpo He shouldn't go at all! Maybe he could try riding a real bike in the city he governs, ather than driving his SUV caravan to the gym to ride a stationary bike!
5
our doctors and nurses who are on the frontline don’t even have protective masks and gloves, asian medical people are increasingly facing racism from their community and work places
They deal with added stress and anxiety even commuting to hospital to work due to racism and fear.
Cornell Cancer center in Manhattan hospital staff said their supply of n95 masks and wipes were stolen out of supply storage room because they didn’t have right security in place. That is insane and the management should take responsibility that missteps caused putting their health workers at risk and just putting the hands up and that they have to deal with it?! They are keeping masks away from nursing staff and saving them for what? That is not the plan. Why isn’t US ramp up mask manufacturing instead of relying on China?
82
Can NYT investigate how hospitals staff are not protected from covid19 environment by hospital administrators failing and putting profit first?
12
Governor Cuomo is getting this right. The only appropriate response is using overwhelming force. It may not be popular with a lot of folks, but South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore proved it worked.
If only Trump will get out of the way instead of trying to personally capitalize on the disaster in every way possible.
181
@Willem Ellis
Cuomo should be applauded. He is the only leader that is getting it right.
19
@Donna
Governor Inslee of Washington State is also leading from the front.
8
So does this mean Coronavirus has won? It’s still out there and going nowhere, just us. At this point how or when does the hiding ever end? Immunity does not develop in isolation. So now we all just starve to death instead. I’m making chicken soup today and luckily I found the last clove of garlic in Los Angeles this morning at Baja Ranch Market for my last supper. My favorite. Sweet.
5
Seriously? The point of all of these measures is to slow the spread of the disease enough to prevent the healthcare system from collapsing and have panicked health workers refuse to come to work. What natural immunity?
In Italy, doctors are having to decide which patients live and which die because they dont have capacity to treat everyone while in China young, over-exhausted doctors and nurses were falling ill and dying. This is what we are trying to avoid.
107
No one is starving to death. Calm down.
12
@Julie, okay and then what? If the schools actually do reopen in two weeks and I get to go back to work what will be different about Coronavirus then? This two week closure feels like the solar panels I put on my roof to stop climate change. Who’s kidding who with regard to reality.
4
I haven’t been able to find answers anywhere (and I’ve been looking), so I’m hoping someone here knows:
What about laundromats and veterinary services?
I’m really hoping they won’t shut the laundromats, very few of the buildings in my neighborhood have laundry rooms and an even smaller number of us here have our own laundry machines. I know I don’t. Laundromats are essential to keeping our clothes clean.
(And vet services are a no-brainer, no explanation necessary why we need those. At least, I hope no explanation is necessary.)
42
@Kate B. My vet clinic has asked that we wait in the parking lot until they call us to come in.
13
@Kate B. There are a lot of businesses that haven't been closed. The state is focusing on those businesses where the patrons have a lot of close interaction.
6
@Kate B.
If all else fails, try washing a few items at a time in the sink or tub. Takes a little elbow grease. Rinse and hang in the bathroom. Really not hard.
15
This ends the trend towards urbanization and mass transit. Lower densities mean the suburbs and private automobile will be the future of America. Many of the people fleeing New York now aren’t coming back.
10
@Rick
Not really.
In a month max we will be back in the street, going out, having lunch and talking about the next political scandal. in short, life will be right back at normal.
People will flock right back out to the streets after a few weeks of cabin fever.
And any one telling you they are leaving New York, have been saying it for years yet here they are.
And no, I rather not drive to the mall, Costco and the pub, thanks. I'll take the subway instead. Trust me, not all of us dream of living in Suburbia, by far.
25
@AutumnLeaf. You're absolutely right. The social and economic trends that are driving city living won't be altered by this virus, especially since the young people who are behind those trends don't appear to be particularly affected.
If this were a permanent condition, the outlook might be different. But, people will develop immunities and a vaccine will be developed.
7
@AutumnLeaf It's not going to be a month. It's more like a few months.
9
What can be done to help the restaurant servers? Thousands now unemployed? How will they get groceries in three weeks? I understand the need but are there any protections or help for them? Can they collect unemployment without hurting future (a month or two) job prospects?
63
@Mr. Montgomery Even is they can get UI it takes a few weeks to process. As a former server in my younger days, I feel awful for them and all the managers, cooks, hosts, dishwashers, etc.
21
@Mr. Montgomery In NYS the governor has waived the unemployment waiting period if the pandemic is the reason for it.
25
Kroger is doing mass hiring, waiving the usual protocols. Direct these folks to the local markets. They need surge support, these folks need temporary employment.
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In the dry season, Florida used to restrict the use of water by allowing lawn watering on specific days by odd/even addresses. Social distancing could be enhanced similarly by encouraging grocery and pharmacy shopping on odd/even dates by address. That still allows multiple dates per week to shop but guarantees at least 50% of shoppers will not be in stores on any given day.
It worked to ease the strain on the Florida aquaphor, perhaps it could help slow the spread of this virus.
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Does anyone know what percentage of corona virus patients, who are put on ventilators, recover? My suspicion is 100% die. Just curious if anyone has seen any statistics.
@Michael Green I read in a journal that 14% of victims get the most severe form of the virus . There was no information about recovery rates for those on ventilators. China could provide that information. But it may not be valid or reliable.
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@ATOM According to what I read, China reported approximately 50% survived who were on ventilators. You need to be careful interpreting this though. For example, the overall case-fatality rate was much lower outside Wuhan, where the system was less overstretched (and maybe people could get care faster). You also have look at the age structure of the population where the outbreak is occurring. The rationalization of ventilators- did China have more, so they were more liberal on who got ventilators and Italy generally used more strict criteria? The data and the understanding of the circumstances in different countries/their hospitals are in their infancy, so comparisons must be made judiciously and with caveats.
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@Michael Green
From the Lacent article, Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study:
"32 patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, of whom 31 (97%) died."
Then from a chart in the same article: 26 required non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Of them 24 died.
The study only looked 191 cases in Wuhan during January, so who knows if that rate will be the same here.
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