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Gov. Cuomo Outlines Plan to Re-Open New York at SUNY Upstate Press Conference

Chris Bolt
/
WAER News

Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed Central New York’s Coronavirus infection rate and its economy in his briefing from Syracuse Tuesday.  Cuomo realizes Upstate is very different than New York City.

Onondaga County updates on the COVID-19 pandemic have recently shown leveling off or drops in community spread infections.  Cuomo says hard data on infections and the rate of spread from person to person are key factors to determine when and how to reopen the economy.  But Cuomo also says it’s not just that simple.

“Regions that in two weeks have reduced rates, these would be the reopening plans that we have to have in place. Those counties would have to coordinate on the county responsibilities, the state has to coordinate certain responsibilities, the federal government are providing supplies for the testing because the testing has been a big problem.”

He gave the update at Upstate University Hospital.  No more than 70% of hospital beds are full in the county, a positive sign for region health.  If beds were full, any uptick in cases could overwhelm health systems.  Other factors include plans on distancing and personal protective equipment for each business that would reopen, testing, and isolation specifics for positive cases. 

Manufacturing and construction seem most likely to be in any phase one of an opening process, with an estimated 46,000 jobs in our region.  Cuomo says data, metrics and even circuit breakers if things take a turn for the worse, are essential to getting the economy going again.

“Factual points of what we have to do to reopen, so everyone has the same opening template that we’re dealing with. But emotions can’t drive a re-opening process. Be smart about it, don’t be emotional, don’t be political, don’t get pushed politically into a situation protesters are in front of the capital, we better re-open no, I’m not going to do that. That’s not how we make decisions.”

More guidance on schools is expected by the end of the week.  Cuomo warned against opening beaches, other waterfront attractions or something like the state fair because they would attract people from other regions that are not open and increase density like the hotspot in New York City.

The administration is still saying to, ‘stay home, stop the spread, save lives.’  Cuomo thanked essential workers, from grocery store employees to cab and bus drivers, to nurses and doctors.  They’re facing increased infection rates but are needed to for people to eat, get to work, keep the lights on and care for people, he said.

The Governor’s Office released a point-by-point plan for re-opening the state as part of the press conference. From its press release:

  • Phase one will include opening construction and manufacturing functions with low risk.
  • Phase two will open certain industries based on priority and risk level. Businesses considered "more essential" with inherent low risks of infection in the workplace and to customers will be prioritized, followed by other businesses considered "less essential" or those that present a higher risk of infection spread. As the infection rate declines, the pace of reopening businesses will be increased.
  • The region must not open attractions or businesses that would draw a large number of visitors from outside the local area.
  • There will be two weeks in between each phase to monitor the effects of the re-opening and ensure hospitalization and infection rates are not increasing.
  • This plan will be implemented with multi-state coordination, especially in downstate New York. The plan will also coordinate the opening of transportation systems, parks, schools, beaches and businesses with special attention on summer activities for downstate, public housing and low-income communities, food banks and childcare.
  • The phased re-opening will also be based on individual business and industry plans that include new measures to protect employees and consumers, make the physical workspace safer and implement processes that lower risk of infection in the business. The state is consulting with local leaders in each region and industry to formulate these plans. 

According to the Governor’s Office, Onondaga County has 692 total positive cases of COVID-19 as of April 28.