Brothers and Sisters,
Please see the following information from Gov. Cuomo's Press Conferences this weekend. In addition, the Senate is meeting today and the Assembly is scheduled to meet tomorrow in an effort to pass resolutions to allow for remote voting for the state budget this week.
From today's Press Conference:
Governor Cuomo announced that the NY PAUSE order (non-essential workers down to 0%) will be extended until April 15th.
- Focus on inter-hospital cooperation between public and private hospitals in order to meet
demands and relieve individual hospital (capacity, staff, equipment) stress.
- Governor asking de Blasio and Stringer (Comptroller, fmr. Asm.) to look into modifying public
hospital systems in NYC.
- Governor meeting w/ GNYHA tomorrow to discuss private hospital cooperation.
- Then, broaden the hospital systems to cooperate regionally.
- Governor extending NY PAUSE through April 15, and will reassess at that point.
- Wadsworth developed a less intrusive saliva and short nasal swab test. Healthcare workers
can self administer. Should start next week.
- State still working to purchase PPE to increase stockpile for eventual distribution.
- 76,019 healthcare workers have volunteered.
- New hospitalizations increased overnight. Hospitalization rate is now
doubling every six days. Doubling rate is slowing.
MEDICAID & FEDERAL LEGISLATION:
- Schumer's office states that the Gov is flatly refusing Medicaid money. Governor reiterated the
request to change the legislation to allow for MRT II recommendations. On pushing ahead with
MRT II recommendations, Governor stated that he has no choice. Does not accept one-shot
payment to postpone the changes.
- Mujica states that the real number NYS would receive is about $4B, and ends whenever the
President removes the emergency declaration, which could further reduce the amount received.
- According to the Governor, US House Speaker Pelosi stated that the Federal
Government will have to address state revenue issue.
- Governor stated that in lieu of Federal action, the State will have to make
"drastic cuts to the Budget, like you have never seen."
BUDGET:
- Mujica: short-term borrowing will be enacted in order to make up for delayed revenues now that
the tax deadline was extended. This will not be able to make up for the possible $10B revenue
shortfall from having non-essential businesses closed.
- Governor stated that he is not going to sign a, quote phony budget, nor paper-over the
economic reality. Recognizes that it is difficult for the Legislature to recognize.
- Policy in Budget according to Governor:
- Legislature objects to bill that is meant to fight against anti-semitism.
- Objections to the surrogacy bill.
From Saturday's Press Conference:
- All local elections will also be moved to June 23.
- Executive Order will be released to allow for birthing mothers to have company in the delivery
room, overriding individual hospital policies.
- State stressing that FDA allow COVID-19 home testing - get those who test negative back to
work.
- On millionaire tax - Governor stated that how does not know how the state could raise taxes at
this time - people whose business has closed.
- Governor Cuomo calling for a nationwide buying consortium. Governor will be speaking with
the states in order to organize to secure better pricing and reducing competition among the
states.
- Calling for the federal government to open the market to plan forward on testing. Describes
it as only way to open up economy quickly. - Commended the President for using the Defense Production Act to produce ventilators.
- If ventilators are not available, the use of a bag-valve mask is the alternative. Use is manual
intensive, and the state is procuring additional bag-valve masks. Training the National Guard to
use them, but the bag-valve masks require 24 hour a day staffing.
- The Governor reiterated his rationale for requesting 30k ventilators - the science dictates the
numbers - go to war with what you have, not what you need, so prepare now.
- Ventilators now cost about $45k ($25k at start of crisis), and state is procuring most at
the moment.
- State not currently using the 4,000 federal ventilators, because they are stockpiling in order to
meet demands of the coming apex (still forecasted for 14-21 days from now).
- State still buying PPE equipment to meet long-term needs.
- New CDC crisis guidelines are causing concern among healthcare providers (they do not
adequately protect the healthcare workers). Zucker is reviewing the new guidelines, and will
make a determination on whether or not to implement stricter guidelines.
- Requesting local health systems to think more holistically, and to work together in order to
spread out needs, share supplies, and send staff to areas needed - DOH mandating.
- Asking pharmacies to offer free delivery at no charge to reduce density of waiting in lines.
Discussions will be held with the pharmacies today.
- DOH monitoring density and activity in NYC Parks. Reports of non-compliance, if continued
the State will close the playgrounds to all use.
- 1,100 tests being administered for Hydroxychloroquine and Zithromax currently.
- Javits temporary hospital to open Monday. USNS Comfort scheduled to arrive on Monday
(1,200 medical personnel, 1,000 beds), to be used to relieve pressure on hospitals.
- Governor spoke to the President this morning.
- President approved four new federal temporary hospitals (one in every borough now approved):
- Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
- Aqueduct Racetrack
- CUNY Staten Island
- New York Expo Center
- 4k total additional beds
- COVID-only hospitals, new approach (600 plus beds):
- South Beach Psyc (Staten Island)
- SUNY Downstate
- Westchester Square
- FDA approved DOH requested for antibody testing. DOH starting the testing now.
- Presidential Primary delayed until June 23.
- Daily ICU admissions decreased between Thursday and Friday (374 to 172), State
will be averaging three days for better trending
- New hospitalizations also decreased across the same timeframe.
The NYSPFFA is continuing our efforts to strengthen DOH guidelines to protect the health and safety of our members, as well as securing PPE. Please notify any EB member with questions or concerns, and stay safe.
Samuel A. Fresina
President
NYSPFFA