September 28, 2020
Albany, NY

Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Deploys Rapid Result Testing Machines to Address Recent Uptick in Cases in Cluster Zip Codes

.5 Percent of Yesterday's COVID-19 Tests were Positive

10 ZIP Codes in NYS - Where 3 Percent of NYS Population Resides - Accounted for 27 Percent of Positive Tests

State Deploying Up to 200 Rapid Result Testing Machines and Kits to ZIP Codes with Upticks in Cases

Hospitalizations and Intubations Remain Flat; Number of ICU Patients Down

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 988 Establishments; Observes 5 Establishments Not in Compliance

Confirms 834 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 456,460; New Cases in 42 Counties

Governor Cuomo: "Focus on the clusters. We have 200 rapid testing machines that we're going to make immediately available today. The private schools that are in those zip codes, I strongly encourage to request a rapid testing machine and have them start testing their students. Rapid testing machines are 15 minutes turn around for a test. You can do 4 per hour. We can make those available today, tomorrow. We can provide staff, Department of Health staff, to operate those machines if the local governments can't. That's every private and public school in those zip codes. To the local governments in those zip codes, it's the same offer."

Cuomo: "A number of local governments closed shelters during COVID. The state will put out guidance; they should reopen those shelters and they should open COVID-safe shelters. We know how to open schools; we know how to open restaurants; we know how to open flexible art space; we know how to open shelters. The weather is getting cold. Nobody should be living on the street. Nobody should be living on the street, especially in the middle of a global health pandemic. The public is anxious for their own public health and I understand that. I'm anxious about the health of homeless people. The cities - counties also - should reopen their shelters."

Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor detailed the uptick in cases and test positivity in select ZIP codes in New York State, where 27% of positive tests reported on Sunday came from ten ZIP codes where just 3% of the state's population resides, and 37% of positive cases came from 20 ZIP codes where just 6% of the state's population resides. The Governor also noted that while the state's overall positivity rate for Sunday's tests is 1.5%, the positivity rate outside of the top 20 ZIP codes for new cases was just 1%.

New York will deploy 200 rapid testing machines to the sites of several upticks in specific counties and zip codes throughout the state. The areas are Brooklyn, Orange County, Rockland County and the Southern Tier. New York State can provide Department of Health staff and rapid testing machines to zip codes and local governments that need them. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.

AUDIO of today's remarks is available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Hello guys - guys being gender-neutral - Melissa DeRosa, Rob Mujica, Beth Garvey, Jim Malatras, Gareth Rhodes.

I just want to give you more, an update on what we're seeing in the numbers when we look at the zip codes. The top 20 zip codes in the state - remember there are 1,769 zip codes, okay? - if you look at the top 20 zip codes in the state, they have an infection rate of about 10 percent. The statewide rate is about 1 percent if you don't count those top 20 zip codes. In those zip codes it's about 9 percent. If you focus on the top 10, the infection rate in the top 10 zip codes is about 15 percent. Those top 10 zip codes represent 2.9 percent of the state's population and 25 percent of the cases. 2.9 percent of the population, 25 percent of the cases, positive cases. So that's what the testing and the data does for you so target those top 10 zip codes.

Rockland County, zip code 10977, 30 percent tested positive. Rockland County, 10952, 25 percent positive. Orange, 10950, 22 percent positive. Kings, 11219, 17 percent. Kings, 11210, 11 percent. Kings, 11204, 9 percent. Kings, 11230, 9 percent. So, Queens 11367, 6 percent.

Focus on the clusters. We have 200 rapid testing machines that we're going to make immediately available today. The private schools that are in those zip codes, I strongly encourage to request a rapid testing machine and have them start testing their students. Rapid testing machines are 15 minutes turn around for a test. You can do 4 per hour. We can make those available today, tomorrow. We can provide staff, Department of Health staff, to operate those machines if the local governments can't. That's every private and public school in those zip codes.

To the local governments in those zip codes, it's the same offer. We will deploy rapid testing machines, 15-minute turn around, to local governments to focus on those cluster zip codes. Also, local governments should focus on those cluster zip codes in terms of mask enforcement and compliance enforcement in addition to testing. Testing, mask compliance, social distancing requirements - those zip codes, bars, restaurants, masks and additional testing. We have 200 machines that we will earmark just for that cluster.

The key to these clusters is to jump on them quickly, attack them from all sides, get the testing so you can do contact tracing and you can isolate. Get mask compliance up, hand sanitizer and gathering compliance - bars, restaurants, et cetera. We will be contacting the local governments and the schools. To accelerate this, I'm calling on the local governments and the schools to contact us if they need the machines, if they can use the machines and we'll send staff. Public schools, private schools and local governments.

One other point - there are a number of homeless encampments, primarily in urban areas across the state. People have been complaining about them, as they should. Not only is a homeless encampment a violation of that homeless person's dignity, it's also a public health threat now. People get nervous when they walk passed them. So, it's a public health threat for people who come in contact with homeless people on the street and it's a public health threat for homeless people.

A number of local governments closed shelters during COVID. The state will put out guidance; they should reopen those shelters and they should open COVID-safe shelters. We know how to open schools; we know how to open restaurants; we know how to open flexible art space; we know how to open shelters.

The weather is getting cold. Nobody should be living on the street. Nobody should be living on the street, especially in the middle of a global health pandemic. The public is anxious for their own public health and I understand that. I'm anxious about the health of homeless people. The cities - counties also - should reopen their shelters.

We'll put out guidance early this week on COVID-safe, but they know, basically, how to make a facility COVID-safe because they've all been doing it on a number of applications but, the shelters have to open. It's getting cold. Get homeless people off the streets and into a safe shelter.

Contact the Governor's Press Office

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