Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on Novel Coronavirus and Urges Continued Awareness While Flu is Still Prevalent

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced an update on the status of testing for the novel coronavirus in New York State. As of today, samples from 22 New Yorkers have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. Of those, 16 have come back negative. Two samples from New York City and four samples from New York State outside of New York City are pending, for six total pending samples. There are still no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in New York State.

The Governor also issued updates on the number of flu cases, which continue to rise, and urged all New Yorkers to take recommended precautions as we approach the peak of flu season.

VIDEO of today's event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO of today's event is available here.

Governor Cuomo: Let me turn it over to our great Health Commissioner to give an update on the Coronavirus.

Dr. Howard Zucker: Thank you Governor and good afternoon. As we have said over the past few weeks, the risk to the public in New York State is currently very low. The Department is in daily communications, often several times a day, with our colleagues at the CDC, HHS and New York City office of the Department of Health, the Port Authority and local health departments and healthcare providers statewide. And together, we are closely monitoring the developments in China as well as here in the United States.

There are 12 cases nationally and our focus continues on aggressively identifying any new potential for exposures among travelers returning to New York. Now regarding travel, there have been several reports regarding a cruise ship that is docked in Bayonne, New Jersey. What we can tell you is that we understand four individuals have been taken to University Hospital in Newark for observation. But none of the individuals were experiencing symptoms consistent with novel coronavirus.

We've added this novel coronavirus to the department's list of communicable diseases, which requires health care providers to report persons under investigation to their local health departments and ultimately to the state Department of Health.

Reporting and investigation of cases is already taking place and adding novel coronavirus to this list will improve our ability to coordinate efforts with local health officials to control the spread of the disease if necessary.

Additionally, the Wadsworth Center, which is our New York State's public health lab, is working closely with the CDC to get the ability to perform the test for the novel coronavirus and we're working quickly to implement that testing. Bottom line is, we are very well prepared for this response and New York State and local public health officials along with healthcare facilities are very experienced with infectious control practices. While the novel coronavirus not an immediate threat to New Yorkers, let us please not forget that the flu is still prevalent in New York State and has not yet peaked. According to the latest surveillance report last week alone, 1889 New Yorkers were hospitalized with lab confirmed influenza. In that same week 17,321 lab confirmed flu cases were reported. That's a 15 percent increase from the week prior and one of the highest single weeks of activity we have seen. There have also been 13,463 hospitalizations this season since around October.

So every day preventative actions can help stop the spread of both flu as well as the novel coronavirus. Wash your hands often, cover your mouth or your nose when you sneeze. Sneeze into your sleeve. Stay home if you're sick. This is really important. If you're not feeling well, best thing to do is to stay home. If you want, call your doctor, call your health professional, but don't run to the emergency room unless it's truly an emergency. And finally I would like to just address what I think is a very disturbing trend. Concerns about novel coronavirus should focus on public health and safety, not using the excuse for anti-Asian racism or xenophobia. As I have mentioned while the risk of novel coronavirus is still low, New Yorkers should remain vigilant and protect themselves and their families. We should stick together not attack one another. We're going to get through this like we've gotten through so many other things. Thank you very much.

Governor Cuomo: Well said, Commissioner. And just as the Commissioner said, yesterday we were contacted by the federal department of HHS and CDC on the cruise ship that was coming into the New York Harbor. There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus on that cruise ship. Four people are being tested, but there were no confirmed cases and we're working with them on that. And just to reiterate what the Commissioner, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York thus far.

We would expect as time goes on that we will find a case of Coronavirus if you look at the spread of it around the world, we would expect that and we are prepared for that. We have taken a lot of time to put protocols in place and quarantine procedures, et cetera. But again, I understand the fear. We went through this before: Zika virus, Ebola, et cetera. But let's have some connection to the reality of the situation, and as the doctor said, catching the flu right now is a much greater risk than anything that has anything to do with Coronavirus. Let me turn it over to Rick Cotton, who is the Executive Director of the Port Authority, who can speak about the Coronavirus and how it's affecting flights, et cetera.

Rick Cotton: Thank you Governor, at the Port Authority we continue to work closely at all of our airports with our federal, state and local partners, including the New York State Department of Health, to ensure that the mandated screening of returning international travelers to the United States is handled smoothly and without incident. Since the order went into effect on Sunday afternoon, at JFK the CDC has screened 6,664 travelers, 3,100 of those travelers came on 14 flights nonstop from mainland China. The remainder of those screened, about 3,500, came on other flights and were flagged for CDC screening due to recent travel to mainland China. Of the 6,664 travelers who have been screened, five have been referred for quarantine. The Port Authority is prepared to assist its partners as we work to protect the public health. Thank you very much.