Keeping New Yorkers Calm During Coronavirus
By Dan Murphy
In the midst of the Corona virus in which Westchester, and New Rochelle, have become one the center points of cases, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been a steady and calming voice in the middle of anxiety and fear for some residents.
“I’m telling New Yorkers what I need to tell them to keep them calm,” he said. “If they know the facts, they will be calm.”
During the first week of the virus in New York, Cuomo focused on the fact that New York State had begun testing. “Yes, we’re testing aggressively; yes, you’ll see the number of people who test positive going up,” he said. “Yes, a large number of people will be infected, is my guess, by the end of the day. But remember, what we’re really trying to do here is avoid the massive disruption of closing everything down for two weeks the way China did, the way Italy is doing, and we’re trying to protect the vulnerable populations for whom this coronavirus could really be dangerous – senior citizens, immune-compromised.”
Cuomo has also compared the Corona virus favorably to Ebola and the SARS virus, by claiming it is like “a bad flu.” “We’re not dealing with Ebola virus, we’re not dealing with a SARS virus,” he said.
When asked about concerns for commuters from Westchester and the New York suburbs going into Manhattan for work every day, Cuomo said: “What we do here is we calibrate the facts as we know them at the time, so as the facts change, you change your strategy. But at this time there’s no reason to close down mass transit.”
The governor pointed out that commuters who may be concerned about the one New Rochelle individual who has transmitted COVID-19 to his family, neighbors and worshipers. “Symptoms would have set in already if people were infected by that individual on the train,” he said.
Most important, Cuomo has taken to the local and national news to try to repeat one important line: “Worse than the virus right now… is the fear, pandemic. The fear is more dangerous than the virus.”
Cuomo has called the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak “absurd and nonsensical,” because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was slow to initially test people for the virus, until finally, “in a tardy fashion” the CDC permitted states to test.
“New Yorkers should focus on facts, not fear, as we confront this evolving situation, and the facts do not merit the level of anxiety we are seeing,” Governor Cuomo said. “The number of cases will increase because it’s math – the more you test, the more cases you find. We are testing more people, we are isolating anyone who may have come into contact with the virus, and we are getting people care if they need it.”
The governor has activated the statewide Emergency Operations Center in Albany, as well as two Emergency Operations Centers in Westchester County –in Hawthorne and New Rochelle.
We agree with the governor’s logical response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. “There’s more fear, more anxiety than the facts would justify,” he said. “Most people have mild symptoms and don’t get hospitalized.”
A new, statewide coronavirus testing protocol was also implemented last week, in five steps: A person who comes within close contact, defined as 6 feet, of a person known to be a positive case of coronavirus will get tested; a person who has been quarantined (mandatory or precautionary) and begins showing symptoms of coronavirus will get tested; a person who has traveled to a hot spot area and is showing symptoms associated with coronavirus will get tested; a person who is seriously ill, as determined by a doctor, and hasn’t tested positive for any other virus will get tested; and any other case where the doctor consults with the local and state departments of health, and facts and circumstances merit it, the person will get tested.
COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe, including fever, cough and shortness of breath. The CDC advises those who are mildly ill with the virus to stay home and avoid public areas to avoid spreading it.
Eighty percent of people who get the virus are not seriously affected, and it passes through them like a cold, or mild flu. Only the elderly, or those who have a pre-existing health condition, or respiratory problem, are more seriously affected by the virus and should take precaution.
And Cuomo has said that he is most concerned about the elderly population and protecting those who can fall seriously ill from COVID-19 – but that number is a small percentage of the entire population of New York State.
“We should relax, because that’s what’s dictated by the reality of the situation,” he said. “Test as many as you can, and then isolate those people so you do reduce the spread. That’s what this is about: Reduce the spread, not eliminate the spread.”
In addition to Cuomo, who has exhibited calm in the middle of an emergency that could result in fear and panic, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has also presented the same, giving county residents the facts when he gets them, but also encouraging residents to continue to live their lives.
Standing in solidarity with the people of New Rochelle, Latimer and New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the Wykagyl neighborhood of the city.
“We stand with you, New Rochelle,” said Latimer. “We must remember who we are – the county is a wonderful tapestry of people from many different backgrounds, religions and languages. Events like this one can cause stress and anxiety, which can lead to biases against those of specific ethnicities or countries of origin. Please remember that we are all co-workers, neighbors, schoolmates, fellow community members, and be kind to one another.”
Bramson added: “This is a moment for our entire community to come together, and especially to lift up the residents and businesses that are bearing the heaviest burdens. I am proud to support the Wykagyl neighborhood as a shopper, diner and friend, and encourage others in our city and region to demonstrate their own support and confidence.”
This reporter noticed fewer people eating out at restaurants, going to the movies, and attending church over the past weekend. I did all three – with my wife and daughter. The only locations that seemed to have normal customers were supermarkets, where some residents were loading up.
Editor’s note: The @HealthNYGov #coronavirus hotline is now live at 1-888-364-3065. This is a 24/7 service that offers information and help with combatting the spread of Coronavirus.
