New York vs the Corona Virus
Aug. 15th, 2020 12:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatWhile other states are busy playing political footsie with Trump, *cough*pretty much the entire southern and midwestern US*cough*, New York is putting everything it has towards fighting the damn virus and keeping everyone chug-chug-chugging along.
New York State is investing in innovative methods to detect and control any new Coronavirus outbreaks. Today, we are launching a pilot program to detect the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater. In doing so, we will have an early indicator system to detect virus spread in communities. Wastewater testing has been identified by top scientists and researchers as a cost-effective way to monitor for outbreaks of COVID-19 around the world.
The State will provide $500,000 to support a wastewater sampling project in Onondaga County and start sample collection in Albany, Newburgh and Buffalo. This new initiative will complement our leading testing program, which is now up to 87,000 tests a day (3-day average) and that provides a daily snapshot of the estimated infection rate of the virus by region across the state. We know that when we follow the science we win the fight against this virus. The more data we have, and the more points of detection, the better able we are to stop the spread.
I wasn't kidding about NY being test happy. I can get tested. I just have to find a place to do it. And it is free via my agency, and various places in my community. (Unlike Texas, where it costs a bundle.) South Carolina is also free - according to my mother. But I don't see any reason to do it. I didn't have the antibodies in June. Most likely don't have it now. If I'm forced to re-enter the office - I might do it on the way home from work at Northwell Health Site - which is agency's go to testing sites.
Although I'm leery of the effectiveness of the tests. Mainly because I've heard a lot of weird stories. My parents friends both tested positive four times now. They have been in lock-down for 28 days. They tested positive three days in, then 14 days, then 20 days, and now 28 days. And still positive? Meanwhile, I've family members who got really sick with it - and got false negatives. It's funky and sneaky little virus.
When New York was in need, individuals from 44 states (and in territories as far as Guam) and from 12+ foreign countries mailed over 8,000 masks to my office. It's that unity and solidarity that our nation must keep up in order to beat this virus.
Hopeful. Always hopeful.
The rest..
New York City museums and cultural institutions can reopen starting Monday, August 24. Museums, aquariums, and other low-risk indoor arts and cultural institutions can open at 25% capacity. Timed ticketing will be required with pre-set, staggered entry, along with strict enforcement of face coverings, social distancing, controlled traffic flow to avoid crowding, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Oh goody - less kids in Greenwood Cemetery and in the Park. Give those pesky families somewhere else to go - please. (I won't be going, I'm too scared to go to my workplace.)
2. Bowling alleys throughout New York will be allowed to reopen starting Monday with strict safety protocols. Bowling alleys will be able to operate at a 50 percent occupancy, and face coverings and social distancing will be required at all times. Every other lane must be closed and patrons need to stay with the party at their assigned lane. Additionally, thorough cleaning and disinfection of shared or rented equipment between each use will be required. Read more here.
The appeal of bowling has always been lost on me. My family too. We're not into games or competitive sports. My brother doesn't bowl - I think we've all tried it. I remember doing it once with my family, and several times with friends, and no, the appeal is completely lost on me. I just don't get it.
3. New York will dispatch mobile testing teams to farms in rural counties across New York. The State's contact tracing program has identified several new clusters at farms linked to seasonal workers. In addition to sending mobile testing teams, the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture & Markets will help provide housing for farm workers who test positive and need to be isolated.
Like I said, NY is into testing. And they are fast now. If an outbreak is detected, they converge on it, break out the test kits, the contact tracing, and the quarantine as fast as possible to contain it.
4. The total number of COVID hospitalizations continues to remain low. Yesterday, there were 554 hospitalizations, a slight drop from the previous day. Of the 85,455 tests reported yesterday, 727 were positive (0.85%). Sadly, we lost 4 New Yorkers to the virus.
New York State is investing in innovative methods to detect and control any new Coronavirus outbreaks. Today, we are launching a pilot program to detect the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater. In doing so, we will have an early indicator system to detect virus spread in communities. Wastewater testing has been identified by top scientists and researchers as a cost-effective way to monitor for outbreaks of COVID-19 around the world.
The State will provide $500,000 to support a wastewater sampling project in Onondaga County and start sample collection in Albany, Newburgh and Buffalo. This new initiative will complement our leading testing program, which is now up to 87,000 tests a day (3-day average) and that provides a daily snapshot of the estimated infection rate of the virus by region across the state. We know that when we follow the science we win the fight against this virus. The more data we have, and the more points of detection, the better able we are to stop the spread.
I wasn't kidding about NY being test happy. I can get tested. I just have to find a place to do it. And it is free via my agency, and various places in my community. (Unlike Texas, where it costs a bundle.) South Carolina is also free - according to my mother. But I don't see any reason to do it. I didn't have the antibodies in June. Most likely don't have it now. If I'm forced to re-enter the office - I might do it on the way home from work at Northwell Health Site - which is agency's go to testing sites.
Although I'm leery of the effectiveness of the tests. Mainly because I've heard a lot of weird stories. My parents friends both tested positive four times now. They have been in lock-down for 28 days. They tested positive three days in, then 14 days, then 20 days, and now 28 days. And still positive? Meanwhile, I've family members who got really sick with it - and got false negatives. It's funky and sneaky little virus.
When New York was in need, individuals from 44 states (and in territories as far as Guam) and from 12+ foreign countries mailed over 8,000 masks to my office. It's that unity and solidarity that our nation must keep up in order to beat this virus.
Hopeful. Always hopeful.
The rest..
New York City museums and cultural institutions can reopen starting Monday, August 24. Museums, aquariums, and other low-risk indoor arts and cultural institutions can open at 25% capacity. Timed ticketing will be required with pre-set, staggered entry, along with strict enforcement of face coverings, social distancing, controlled traffic flow to avoid crowding, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Oh goody - less kids in Greenwood Cemetery and in the Park. Give those pesky families somewhere else to go - please. (I won't be going, I'm too scared to go to my workplace.)
2. Bowling alleys throughout New York will be allowed to reopen starting Monday with strict safety protocols. Bowling alleys will be able to operate at a 50 percent occupancy, and face coverings and social distancing will be required at all times. Every other lane must be closed and patrons need to stay with the party at their assigned lane. Additionally, thorough cleaning and disinfection of shared or rented equipment between each use will be required. Read more here.
The appeal of bowling has always been lost on me. My family too. We're not into games or competitive sports. My brother doesn't bowl - I think we've all tried it. I remember doing it once with my family, and several times with friends, and no, the appeal is completely lost on me. I just don't get it.
3. New York will dispatch mobile testing teams to farms in rural counties across New York. The State's contact tracing program has identified several new clusters at farms linked to seasonal workers. In addition to sending mobile testing teams, the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture & Markets will help provide housing for farm workers who test positive and need to be isolated.
Like I said, NY is into testing. And they are fast now. If an outbreak is detected, they converge on it, break out the test kits, the contact tracing, and the quarantine as fast as possible to contain it.
4. The total number of COVID hospitalizations continues to remain low. Yesterday, there were 554 hospitalizations, a slight drop from the previous day. Of the 85,455 tests reported yesterday, 727 were positive (0.85%). Sadly, we lost 4 New Yorkers to the virus.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-15 05:56 pm (UTC)I wish we could say the same. Our governor is a wimp. Honest to God, I hope someone competent primarys him.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-15 06:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-15 06:52 pm (UTC)