New York will spend $ 40 million to prepare for the expected outbreak of coronavirus

There are still no confirmed cases in New York State, but authorities have begun active preparations to deal with the expected outbreak of coronavirus. About This пишет edition The New York Times.

The day after the Centers for Disease Control warned that Americans should prepare for the spread of coronavirus throughout the country, New York authorities took action.

State Governor Andrew Cuomo and City Mayor Bill de Blasio have said the deadly virus is only a matter of time before it spreads. “New York is the front door internationally. People from all over the world come here, ”Cuomo said. "No one should be surprised when positive cases are revealed in New York."

How New York prepares for a virus outbreak

Cuomo called on the legislature to allocate $ 40 million urgently to the State Department of Health so they can get all the supplies they need to prevent and control the virus.

City officials also said on February 26 that New York City needs more face masks to stave off a potential coronavirus outbreak. “Our health officials have already distributed 1,5 million masks in New York City. This is a very good start, but we need more. We have requests for at least 300 additional surgical masks, ”Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference on the city's response to the worldwide virus.

The mayor noted that federal assistance will be needed to ensure the quick arrival of the masks in New York. “Therefore, I urge the federal government to help us and all other localities get the masks needed to work with private sector suppliers,” the mayor said.

On the subject: The health of New Yorkers was not affected by the Chinese coronavirus, but the economy was shaken

The Governor of New York State repeated this thought at his own press conference an hour earlier. Cuomo explained that the problem is that many mask manufacturers are based in China, the epicenter of the virus. “It is obvious that now the international community is in a hurry to get the necessary equipment, masks, gloves and so on. China is one of the main producers of this equipment, which obviously makes it (delivery - Ed.) A little more difficult, ”Cuomo said.

Shortage of masks in New York pharmacies

Many pharmacies in the Big Apple reported The Postthat they have sold out all the masks and cannot meet the demand. “It was crazy today, 70 people came to buy masks and we get calls all the time,” said Justin O'Connor, who works in the surgery department of CO Bigelow Pharmacy in the West Village.

He added that the surgical masks ran out three weeks ago. “Since then, we have received three small batches of 200 to 500 masks each time,” O'Connor said. "If they arrive around 14:00 pm, we will sell them by 18:00 pm."

The situation in the world: the number of sick and dead

The total number of cases in the world reached 80, almost 980 people died. More than 3000 people died in China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

At the same time, the global spread of the virus is rapidly moving west. A total of 40 countries, plus Hong Kong, report confirmed cases with new “hot spots” identified in Italy, Germany and the UK, according to the World Health Organization.

According to the governor of the state, the threat of the spread of coronavirus in New York is high. Today, there are 17 thousand people who have been diagnosed with acute respiratory disease. The number of confirmed cases of infection with the Chinese virus in the United States on Wednesday, February 26, increased to 15, according to the publication TASS.

As of February 26, the New York State Department of Health said that only one person outside the Big Apple is awaiting test results for the virus. A total of 26 people, six of whom are in the city, have already been tested since the outbreak began, with negative results.

Also on February 26, Nasso County health officials announced that 83 people were undergoing two-week voluntary quarantine because they had returned from China or had contact with someone who was infected.

How New Yorkers Prepare to Fight the Virus

Responding to concerns about the rapid spread of coronavirus, state governor Andrew Cuomo said on February 26 that quarantines could be introduced in homes, hotels and hospitals.

Cuomo also said that he would ask federal authorities for permission to transfer patient samples for testing at the New York laboratory, instead of waiting for several days for results from the CDC in Atlanta.

In addition, New York State officials called on some 700 people who had recently visited China to volunteer for quarantine. According to the State Department of Health, people visiting mainland China are classified as “moderate risk”.

At the same time, customs and border officials continue to screen passengers at airports. “We are in a state of high vigilance, high preparedness to address this crisis,” Bill de Blasio said at a February 26 press conference. "We have the greatest healthcare potential in this country."

It is also reported that the city provided 1200 hospital beds to people suspected of having coronavirus, and distributed 1,5 million face masks to healthcare providers.

Other major US cities are also taking precautions, including San Francisco, which declared a state of emergency on February 25, despite the absence of confirmed cases, claiming that "the global picture is changing rapidly."

Careful preparation for "unforeseen situations"

On February 26, officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said they are working with state and federal health officials to assess potential contingency plans. “We are taking this issue very seriously and are following Washington's lead by continuing to monitor the situation,” said Patrick Warren, chief security officer at MTA. “At the same time, we urge everyone to take standard precautions during any flu season.”

Speaking at a press conference, Patrick J. Foy, chairman of the MTA, said the authorities increased their own supplies of masks and other materials in preparation for the outbreak, but did not propose a contingency plan.

Authorities also ordered thousands of signs on the subway and buses, urging passengers to wash their hands and avoid close contact with sick people.

Similarly, state health officials regularly consulted with the CDC as well as county officials and studied federal mitigation recommendations for a major outbreak. Basic precautions, such as closing the face while sneezing or coughing, as well as larger ones, such as closing schools and canceling social events, were considered.

“If you prepare properly, you will have fewer problems when the situation escalates into something more problematic,” Cuomo said. "A threat that you don't take seriously becomes serious."

As ForumDaily New York wrote earlier:

• January 24th in New Jersey hospitalized woman with symptoms of coronavirus.
• Late January New York started preparing for the 'inevitable' epidemic coronavirus.
• As of late January in New York 5 people were monitored.
• In early February, three people in New York passed the tests because of suspected coronavirus after returning from mainland China.
• Whether the Chinese virus epidemic is threatening New York Read here.