New York presented a new plan to combat COVID-19: what to expect in winter

New York's new plan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic has five phases. They are aimed at mitigating the effects of the spread of the coronavirus and increasing the readiness of state hospitals to receive patients. The edition writes about this in more detail. Politico.

With more than 3500 New Yorkers now hospitalized with COVID-19, health systems across the state must begin to prepare for more beds, balance workloads, and assign staff - including retired nurses and doctors - to work in the field. if the need arises. This was announced on Monday, November 30, by the Governor of New York State Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo announced these actions as part of the presentation of a new five-phase "winter plan" aimed at tackling the pandemic this winter.

Pandemic plan for winter 2020-2021:

Step 1. Continue and strengthen New York's microcluster strategy, guided by hospital capacity and hospital workload, not just positive test counts.

Step 2... Increase and balance COVID-19 testing resources and availability.

Step 3. Ensure the operation of schools and create safe conditions for this.

Step 4. Prevent the spread of viruses by limiting gatherings.

Step 5. Implementation of a fair and safe vaccination program for the population.

Cuomo said his administration has heeded the lessons learned from the pandemic outbreak in spring 2020. She will now focus on the number of new hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients and hospital capacity.

It is also planned to continue using the microcluster strategy, but now the division into yellow, orange and red zones will be based on mortality rates, the number of hospital and intensive care beds available, and available staff, rather than simply testing data. ...

In addition, the state added an emergency lockdown that would allow additional restrictions in the event of a sharp increase in the number of patients in New York.

“We lived in this nightmare, learned from this nightmare and are going to correct mistakes,” Cuomo said during a press conference.

To fill the shortage of medical personnel, all hospitals will need to contact retired nurses and doctors and urge them to return; they will be used in case of staff shortage.

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Hospitals should start balancing workloads and ensuring that the facility is not overwhelmed; plan to increase bandwidth up to 50%; Confirm your stock of personal protective equipment.

Meanwhile, starting November 27, Erie County hospitals, which are seeing a spike in COVID-19, were scheduled to stop routine surgeries. In other regions of the state, such procedures may also be discontinued soon.

Cuomo said the state will launch a hospital tracking system to monitor the situation at the facilities. She will also monitor what is happening in hospitals overwhelmed with patients.

“It was a serious question last time. It's hard when people die because they haven't received the correct medical care, Cuomo said. "So preparation is important."

The governor also said the state is advising counties to open early childhood schools and kindergartens if safe conditions have been created to do so.

Cuomo has made some changes to the microcluster testing protocols, stating that 20% of students and staff in the orange zones should be selectively tested monthly. In the "red" zones - 30% of students must be tested every month.

Cuomo did not rule out another statewide lockdown similar to the one introduced this spring. But he said the emphasis will be on adhering to a more sophisticated microcluster strategy. For example, in the Orange Zone, there may be moderate restrictions in place where outbreaks have been detected, before more stringent restrictions are introduced there.

The governor said 65% of cases are now being diagnosed after private gatherings of people or parties, rather than business activities - an issue that he believes can only be resolved through public education. According to him, he does not believe that restricting economic activity will have the same big impact.

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As reported on the official Online The New York Governor's Office worked with global public health experts, local governments and other stakeholders before announcing this five-phase plan, the state's COVID-19 working group. This ensures that the plan builds on the lessons learned over the past nine months to anticipate and prepare for the expected surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations during the holiday season.

Cuomo noted that the holiday season suggests an increase in population activity, which will lead to an increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19.

“We understand cause and effect and the effect is impressive,” the governor said. - We must adapt to this reality and have a plan that specifically solves the problems associated with it. We've been through the worst, and while we're not done yet, we are moving forward with the lessons we learned in the spring to get through this together. ”