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LATEST NYC CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Take Hikes In NJ Over COVID? Murphy Says 'Everything Is On The Table'

TRENTON (WCBS 880) – The coronavirus pandemic has had an oversized impact on local governments, and Gov. Phil Murphy said that without federal assistance, tax hikes could be coming.“I think everything has got to be on the table,” Murphy said in an interview with the Washington Post on Friday.Listen Live Now on WCBS Newsradio 880New Jersey @GovMurphy says the state plans to reopen schools with in-person learning this fall, adds a comprehensive plan is in place to help manage capacity and social distancing. https://t.co/eHf4SQRas3 #postlive pic.twitter.com/OOuwVBLE8H— Washington Post Live (@postlive) July 10, 2020 Murphy said the only way to avoid widespread layoffs of public workers is a combination of “revenue raisers” like taxes and tolls, as well as budget cuts and aid from the federal government.“We need our legislature to give us the right to borrow from the Fed program, which is something that gives me no joy but we have no other choice,” he said in the Post interview.“We need the federal cash and we're likely going to need revenue raisers. And so, the answer has to be everything's on the table, but there's no amount of revenue that we can raise that comes close to the hole that we've got at the moment,” the governor said.At his briefing hours later, the Murphy said it was “too early to tell” what taxes might be raised to make up billions in lost revenue, NJ.com reported.In Trenton on Friday, state Democrats agreed on a plan to let the state government borrow up to nearly $10 billion. But Republicans plan to sue over the plan, which they said is unconstitutional.Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 11, 2020

NY State’s COVID Hospitalizations Below 800 For 1st Time Since Mid-March

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that coronavirus hospitalizations in New York state had dropped below 800 for the first time since mid-March.The number of hospitalizations was 799 on Friday, the lowest number since March 18.Listen Live Now on WCBS Newsradio 880Today's update on the numbers:69,203 tests were performed yesterday. 730 tests came back positive (1.05% of total).Total hospitalizations fell to 799Sadly, there were 6 COVID fatalities yesterday. pic.twitter.com/mAwlD98Tr1— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 11, 2020 The three-day average death toll in the state—seven deaths—was also the lowest the state had seen since March 16, Cuomo said in a press release.There were six coronavirus deaths statewide on Friday, the governor said. The state’s death toll is now 24,974.A total of 69,203 tests were conducted in the state Friday with 730—or 1.05 percent—coming back positive.The total number of cases in the state is now 401,029.The number of new hospitalizations reported Saturday was 75, while the number of patients in intensive care was 177, with 100 patients intubated.In his statement, Cuomo said: “As we allow ourselves to celebrate some good news—that hospitalizations have dropped below 800 for the first time since March 18 and the three-day average death toll is at its lowest since March 16—I urge residents to stay New York Tough and not give up the ground we've worked so hard to gain together, particularly in the face of rising cases throughout the country and compliance issues here at home.”In an interview Friday, Cuomo warned that New York state will inevitably see a rise in coronavirus cases as the virus surges in other states."It's like being on a merry-go-round. It's totally predictable," Cuomo said. "And we're going to go through an increase. I can feel it coming. And it is so unnecessary, and so cruel."Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 11, 2020

Cuomo Says NY Will See Uptick In COVID Cases: 'It Is Going To Come Back Here'

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- New York state will inevitably experience an uptick in COVID-19 cases soon because of the virus' surge in the rest of the country, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday."I'll tell you what's going to happen, and you can mark your calendar on this: You're going to see our numbers and the Northeast numbers probably start to increase because the virus that you see now in the south and the west, California has real trouble, it's going to come back here. It is going to come back here," he said during an interview with WAMC Northeast Public Radio in Albany. "It's like being on a merry-go-round. It's totally predictable. And we're going to go through an increase. I can feel it coming. And it is so unnecessary, and so cruel."While the state is bound to experience a rise in cases, it's unknown how severe that increase will be, he said."It rises up in the other states and then is going to come back here from the other states. That's what's going to happen. The only question is how far up our rate goes. But you can't have it all across the country and not come back. You think nobody's coming here from California and these states? Come on."And when asked if there is way to stop the expected uptick, Cuomo said, "I don't think so. Look, we're doing everything we can. The quarantine, we have an enforcement mechanism. But, you know, how do you catch somebody driving in, right? I mean, it's very very difficult, it's trying to catch water in a screen. And there's a certain inevitability to it."He added, "It was in China, got on a plane, went to Europe, people in Europe got on a plane, came here. Then it went down south, down west, and it's going to come back."

July 11, 2020

Doctor Advises Americans To Avoid All Gatherings To Stop COVID Spread

Sign up for WCBS 880's daily newsletter for the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Coronavirus cases have been spiking throughout the country over the past weeks, and some believe some states should not be moving as quickly as they are to get the economy running again.The New York Times reports much of the surge of new cases has been driven largely by states in the south and west that were among to first ease restrictions. At least six states set single-day records on Thursday for daily coronavirus cases – Albama, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Texas.As New York and New Jersey continue to see a significant drop in cases, there’s worry that travelers from surging states may lead to a spike in the Tri-State, but both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Phil Murphy have began easing restrictions to allow for some indoor and outdoor gatherings again.Currently, areas in Phase 4 in New York are allowed to hold gatherings of up to 50 people and indoor gatherings at 33% capacity. Meanwhile, New Jersey permits outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people and indoor gatherings of 25% capacity. WCBS 880’s Lynda Lopez spoke with Dr. Waleed Javaid, director of infection prevention and control and Mount Sinai Downtown, who cautions for more safety measures. He says with areas still experiencing a rise in cases, there’s a chance the virus has not peaked in certain areas and the death toll could continue to increase.“What we're seeing across the country if the spike,” he said. “Hospitals are getting overwhelmed. I was listening in to some reports from Florida and other places that, literally, they are running out of space. This is very much the same or similar to what we saw in New York a few months ago.” “The transmission of the virus takes time and when it does, it take about 10 to 14 days before we'd be the peak and then also mortalities falls a few weeks behind that as well,” Dr. Javaid explains. The doctor thinks gatherings should not even be permitted at this stage and Americans should consider the fact that the pandemic is no over and the virus remains a real threat.“I know it's very hard harsh statement to say something like that but we need to think beyond today and beyond tomorrow beyond next week and look into months from now,” he said. “All activities we do today impact what happens tomorrow, so overall my final statement would be avoid gatherings if at all possible.”He notes that while outdoor gatherings are better than indoor gatherings, that does not mean the virus still cannot be transmitted from person to person. Dr. Javaid says people still need to wear masks and need to practice social distancing. Meanwhile, he says while younger people may think the virus does not affect them, they are wrong. Many of the new cases in states with spikes are people from the younger generation and he believes the easing of restrictions may have contributed to that.“You and I both heard the reports of al lot of people mingling, a lot of outdoor activities in certain states. I’m not saying one is equal to the other, but there is some degree of link between the activities – going to the beaches for example and parties – and having a higher number of cases. Even though we might see a higher number of younger people going to the hospital, the severity of the illness is almost always worse as the age progresses,” he tells WCBS 880’s Lopez.Dr. Javaid says in a perfect world, he would ask everyone to avoid all gatherings until a proper treatment, vaccine or cure is found. Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

Cuomo Considers Writing Book About Coronavirus Pandemic

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering writing a book about the lessons he learned during the coronavirus pandemic. Other states have looked to how Cuomo has handled New York's response to the crisis, through the 42 days it took to reach the peak before coming back down "the other side of the mountain" — a phrase the governor has often used to describe the state's battle with the virus."Whatever happens this is going to be a period to learn from," Cuomo told WAMC's Dr. Alan Chartock in an interview on Friday afternoon. "I am now thinking about writing a book about what we went through, lessons learned, the entire experience, because if we don't learn from this, then it will really compound the whole crisis that we've gone through."Cuomo noted that New York is now in a "bit of a lull," while other states across the country are seeing a spike in positive cases."Our numbers are good, we work very hard to keep them there. You have other parts of the country that are just going through what we went through a few months ago. It's a cruel tragedy that this nation learned nothing from what we did — all the lives lost, all the money spent," Cuomo said. "There's nothing that they're going through that we didn't go through three or four months ago. And that this federal government allowed this to happen is going to go down in the history books as one of the great blunders of government."During New York's fight with the virus, Cuomo emerged as one of the key faces of the pandemic as he held daily press briefings for 111 consecutive days, updating the public on the spread of the virus and what measures were being taken to flatten the curve. His handling of the situation raised his approval rating at one point to 87%.The governor has come under criticism over the state's high death toll in nursing homes and a state policy that had required nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients. This week, the state's health department released a report that claimed the large number of nursing home deaths from COVID-19 was not the fault of state policy, but staff who unknowingly infected residents.Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

New York Sending Shipment Of COVID-19 Drug Remdesivir To Florida

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that New York State will send the COVID-19 medication Remdesivir to Florida to help with its surge of cases.Cuomo said Florida is waiting for a further supply from the federal government and New York will provide enough Remdesivir to help the state care for 280 COVID-19 patients until the federal shipment arrives."When New York was climbing the COVID mountain with no end in sight and resources were scarce, we were incredibly moved by the generosity of states around the country that stepped up to provide supplies and medical personnel in our time of need," Cuomo said. "We will stand by our fellow Americans every step of the way as our nation fights COVID-19 together." New York's shipment of the medication will arrive in the Sunshine State on Saturday.Early studies have shown Remdesivir shortens recovery time for severely ill coronavirus patients and is the only drug licensed so far to treat COVID-19.Late last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it had secured 500,000 treatment courses of the drug from Gilead Sciences for American hospitals through September. Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

COVID-19 Cases Top 400K In New York

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York has topped 400,000 coronavirus cases, which accounts for about 2 percent of the state's population.The state saw an additional 786 cases in the past day, bringing the total since the start of the outbreak to 400,299. There were eight coronavirus-related deaths in the state on Thursday. Nearly 25,000 people have died from COVID-19 in New York.Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the numbers continue to trend in the right direction and reminds people to wear masks and wash their hands."We know that wearing a mask, washing your hands and social distancing are effective tools for fighting this virus, and now is the time to redouble those efforts," Cuomo said. "Continue to be New York Tough this weekend and show this nation the path forward while keeping your loved ones safe." Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

DOH: NY Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care Facilities Without COVID Cases To Resume Limited Visits

Sign up for WCBS 880's daily newsletter for the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.ALBANY (WCBS 880) — The New York State Department of Health on Friday announced nursing homes and long-term care facilities will be allowed to resume limited visitations. Only facilities that have been without COVID-19 cases for at least 28 days will be allowed to resume visitations.The Health Department says residents in these facilities will be allowed two visitors at a time, and the visitors must undergo temperature checks, wear face coverings and socially distance during the visit. At least one of the two visitors must be at least 18 or older, state officials said.For each facility, only 10% of the residents can be allowed visitors at any time. For example, in a 100-bed facility, no more than 10 residents can have visitors per day.Nursing homes accepting visitors will be required to send their visitation plan to Department of Health and affirmatively attest that they are following state safety guidelines."With the knowledge we now have about how COVID-19 came into nursing homes – mainly through asymptomatic staff and visitors through no fault of their own – it is critical that as we resume visitations to these facilities we do it in a smart and cautious way to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff,” State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said. He notes that the agency will “closely monitor the situation in each facility, and make adjustments based on the facts and data moving forward.”Zucker says he understands people have been desperate to see their loved ones.“I know how painful it has been for residents of these facilities to endure such a long period of time without seeing family and loved ones, and my hope is that this adjustment to the visitation policy will provide some comfort to everyone,” he said.WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall had been covering calls to allow visitations again at nursing homes on Long Island. One 99-year-old woman told her she felt “like a prisoner” being unable to see her family. Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

Malls In Phase 4 Regions Begin Reopening In New York After COVID Shutdown

Sign up for WCBS 880's daily newsletter for the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Indoor shopping malls outside of New York City were set to reopen on Friday.Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for malls to reopen under Phase 4 so long as they have installed new “enhanced” HVAC filtration systems to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The new regulation is applicable to malls in areas that are in Phase 4, including all upstate regions and Long Island. New York City is still in Phase 3 of reopening.“The more we learn about COVID, the clearer it is that safe ventilation is crucial,” the governor said Wednesday. Though, Rockland County Executive Ed Day believes the air-circulation concerns were dramatized.“This whole distractive commentary about air filtration was unnecessary. I said so from the beginning. There were studies done that showed that this was not necessary,” he said.He says the Palisades Center Mall is gigantic with soaring ceilings and he's not worried about coronavirus inside. Day says he is worried about the economy.“There are 5,000 people employed. Obviously, the mall being closed had a major impact on our community,” Day said.The Palisades Mall generates more than $20 million in property taxes and more than $20 million in sales taxes annually. Day says shoppers have been crossing the border going to New Jersey to shop and now hopes the return of malls will help revamp the economy.On Long Island, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has been pushing for malls to reopen since before Phase 2 started. When she heard the governor's news, Curran said she got "goosebumps."Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020

880 IN DEPTH: Saving The School Year

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — At a time when health officials across the country are racing to tamp down COVID-19 flare ups, here in New York the hot topic is how to open schools this fall.As you might imagine, the issue is complicated, and like everything else in this pandemic enviornment, it’s gotten political.President Donald Trump wants schools to reopen for in-person lessons. Health officials in many spots, including New York, are skeptical and New York's governor says it isn't up to the president. He reminded reporters this week that reopening schools was a state decision.This week, the 880 IN DEPTH podcast takes a look at one particular model for schools in the fall.We talked to the president of New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson University.FDU, as it is known, operates out of two campuses in Northern New Jersey and serves over 11,000 students. The school's president, Dr. Christopher Capuano, tells WCBS 880 “it will not be normal as we all had hoped.""It will be a new normal," he said.The school will open the fall semester on August 17th with three weeks of remote learning before opening up the campus for a hybrid of in-person and remote classes. Students will live on campus and dormitories will be the most difficult location to achieve social distancing.The new model will include testing during the semester, and when positive cases pop up during the year, quarantine and contact tracing. Masks and social distance rules will be employed. The measures are for the safety of students, staff and educators.Capuano believes the students will be up for the challenge. He tells WCBS 880 that “this is a wonderful life lesson.""All they need to do is do the right thing," he says, and if they do, “history will treat them right."The IN DEPTH podcast also tackles concerns about the impact of remote learning and concerns about an education gap that existed before the pandemic.Ian Rosenblum is executive director of The Education Trust - New York — a non-partisan education advocacy group. Rosenblum told reporter Peter Haskell that before the pandemic, “our education system was driven by extrordinary inequities” on a wide range of measures, including things like level of instruction and access to special course work.Too often, the inequities negatively impact students of color, and students from low income areas.Rosenblum says we are right to be concerned about the impact of another semester of remote learning, but he believes that we also need to be addressing the eduation equity issue at the same time we work to get kids back into the classroom.He tells WCBS 880 that we need to make sure we put programs in place, and use technology that allows for “all students” to find success in the system.Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.

July 10, 2020