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ALBANY – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new initiative Monday afternoon that involves a coalition of six mostly neighboring states to share information and address both public health and economy in discussions focused on coming up with a plan to potentially re-open schools, businesses and municipalities.
The six-state coalition will include a head of economic development, a head health official and the governor’s chief of staff from each state. “Six states, 18 people,” Cuomo said, during a special press conference called to announce the initiative Monday afternoon.
There are a variety of available options to a reopening strategy. Cuomo likened it to the careful opening of a valve. That is, enough to begin a return of the economy, but not too much as to cause the infection of a large segment of the population.
“If you want to open business, schools have to be open, to any large degree. You want to turn the valve a lot? Schools have to be open. Why? Because you can’t open businesses if people don’t have child care. Or, you can say: I’m not turning the valve that far, we’re going to ease into it, were going to phase into it. That’s what this group has to discuss.”
An effective vaccine against COVID-19 is likely 18 months away. Two occurrences that would help the decision-making process – a rapid test for the new coronavirus that would indicate who is infected, as well as antibody tests — which could detect who had previously been infected with the virus and is potentially immune at present – have been slow to roll out from the federal government.
Talks between the cooperative partnership will commence Tuesday, April 14. “This is about being smart. Follow the data, learn from the other countries,” Cuomo said. Input will come from both healthcare and economic development experts, the governor added.
“I don’t believe that we come up with a fully common strategy. You have different states in different positions. Within this state you have different areas with different circumstances and the plan has to fit the facts of the circumstance. There may be one situation in New York, a different situation in rural counties, a different situation in suburban counties,” Cuomo said. “I want to make sure that we are smart in the way we are doing this for all the people we represent.”
Monday afternoon’s presser included the leaders of the collaborating states, including Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Gov. John Carney of Delaware, and Gov. Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island.
Locally, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health announced on Sunday that there are 221 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Saratoga County- with 12 of those individuals hospitalized at this time. The Department also confirmed the county’s sixth death — a Saratoga County resident who had passed away in New Jersey.
Slightly different totals were posted by the New York State Department of Health which indicated 2,640 persons have been tested in Saratoga County, with 201 – or 7.6%, testing positive.
