NYS Coronavirus Update: Establishing COVID Testing at Church Sites -- Antibody Survey Results of Transit Workers -- Apply To Be a Contact Tracer

May 9, 2020

From Governor Cuomo @ 7:43 PM on May 9:

Low-income communities and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in the New York City metropolitan area, as they have been in many states and cities. In the 21 zip codes with the most new COVID-19 hospitalizations, 20 have greater than average black and/or Latino populations. To address these racial disparities, NYS is partnering with Northwell Health to establish 24 new temporary testing sites at churches and houses of worship in impacted communities. This new capacity will add to the network of downstate testing sites currently operating via drive-through and walk-in centers and at public housing locations.
Like previous state-led efforts, including delivering one million masks and 10,000 gallons of hard sanitizer to public housing residents in New York, this initiative expands access to resources to the communities being hit hardest by the virus. I thank Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries — and New York's faith community — for their partnership in this endeavor. We will meet the need where it is greatest.


Chobani truck

Photo of the Day: A Chobani truck loaded with dairy products heads to a food bank. Chobani is one of the many NY companies participating in the "Nourish New York" initiative.
(Photo by Chobani)

Here's what else you need to know tonight:


1. There have been 73 reported cases of a new inflammatory syndrome in children that is believed to be related to COVID-19. At the request of the CDC, New York is helping to develop the national criteria for identifying and responding to this potentially COVID-related illness. The State Department of Health is also partnering in a genome and RNA sequencing study to better understand this illness and the possible genetic basis of this syndrome. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers: a 5-year-old in New York City, a 7-year-old in Westchester County and a teenager in Suffolk County. My heart goes out to those families and I urge parents to be vigilant.


2. New results were released from our antibody survey of frontline workers. The state tested 1,300 transit workers in the New York City region for COVID-19 antibodies, and the preliminary results show that 14.2 percent are positive for the antibodies, compared to 19.9 percent of the general population in New York City.


3. The number of total COVID hospitalizations continue to decline. Total hospitalizations fell to 7,776, from 8,196 the previous day. Though stubborn, the number of new COVID hospitalizations dropped to 574, from 604 the day before. I'm saddened to share the news that an additional 226 New Yorkers died yesterday of COVID-19.


4. Applications to join New York's COVID-19 tracing effort are now being accepted. In order to reopen the state, we need an army of contact tracers. Apply here.


5. New York nurse Andrea Dalzell is the first registered nurse to use a wheelchair. In an interview, Dalzell discusses her work battling Coronavirus — and shares why she believes it's so important for people with disabilities to serve in medical professions.


Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Many graduation ceremonies have unfortunately been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. To honor its graduating class this year, James Madison High School in Brooklyn printed laminated yearbook headshots of this year's senior class and displayed the portraits around the fence of the school.

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Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo