Gov. Cuomo says NY is stockpiling for ‘main battle’ against COVID-19 as deaths reach 1,550

Gov. Cuomo says there were 9,290 new cases of the virus. There are a total of 75,795 cases, with a predominance in New York City.

News 12 Staff

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Mar 31, 2020, 3:02 PM

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Updated 1,725 days ago

Gov. Cuomo says NY is stockpiling for ‘main battle’ against COVID-19 as deaths reach 1,550

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo says many established rules in health care and government need to be tossed out in the battle against COVID-19.

He says there should be no distinction between private and public hospitals during the pandemic and that an unprecedented level of cooperation is needed to battle the virus that has claimed now 1,550 lives in New York.

MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond

There is a total of 75,795 cases of COVID-19, with a predominance in New York City.

"We have been behind this virus since day 1...and we have been playing catch-up," says Gov. Cuomo.

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He says the stockpile of ventilators and other equipment is being saved for the “apex of the curve” which he says is coming within weeks.

The governor also says staying at home and “social acceptance” of the situation will help residents not get infected while aiding health care workers.

He also urged fast-track testing, criticized the bidding process for ventilators between states and now FEMA, and announced that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has COVID-19.

In response to New York getting only a fraction of COVID-19 relief funding from $2.2 stimulus bill: "Politics be damned in the middle of this."

UPDATES FROM GOV. ANDREW CUOMO:

More than 18,000 people were tested Monday. More than 200,000 New York residents have been tested for COVID-19 so far.
Gov. Cuomo says there were 9,290 new cases of the virus. There are a total of 75,795 cases, with a predominance in New York City.
There has been 1,550 deaths in New York. On Monday, the total was 1,218.
Gov. Cuomo says the number of people being discharged from hospitals rose to 771 people on Monday.
Gov. Cuomo says this is a different type of disaster. "We have been behind this virus since Day 1...and we have been playing catch-up."
"We are planning now for the battle at the top of the mountain."
Residents need "social acceptance" of the situation.
Gov. Cuomo says the concept of private and public hospitals has to be tossed out. The pandemic will require unprecedented cooperation. "It doesn't matter which link in the chain breaks, the chain is broken."
Gov. Cuomo says "this ends when we get a fast-track test."

The state Department of Health's Central Coordinating Team is going to be organizing upstate/downstate transfers of patients, patient loads for hospitals.

Stay at home. "It's not just about you. It's just about your health and your life that your playing with, my friend. You can infect other people...the virus is the great equalizer."
Gov. Cuomo says his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has coronavirus. He says he will be OK and is quarantined in his basement. "It's my family. It's your family. It's all of our families."

"New York needs help now." Gov. Cuomo asked health care workers from across the U.S. to come to the state to help in the COVID-19 effort. He says New York will repay the favor.
A portal for those extra in-state/out-of-state health care workers will be launched today to help sort where they belong.
Gov. Cuomo criticized bidding process for ventilators. He says the 50 states should not be competing with each other, including FEMA, who is also buying them. The governor says FEMA should be buying the ventilators, then distributing them.
In response to New York getting only a fraction of COVID-19 relief funding from $2.2 stimulus bill: "Politics be damned in the middle of this."

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