For the first time since the pandemic hit New York, more people have left ICUs than were admitted. Still, 777 New Yorkers died Thursday of the coronavirus. State health officials fear a second wave of infections if social distancing orders are ignored.
Governor Andrew Cuomo says the path to normalcy is through testing. Millions of tests.
“A tremendous, mind-boggling increase in volume quickly. And I don’t believe in waiting for private sector companies to come up to scale you’re going to see it in the timeframe that you need to get it done.”
Cuomo is again advocating for the federal government to use the Defense Production Act to compel private companies to make tests. He made similar calls for the production of personal protective equipment and ventilators.
Cuomo said Friday that the state has enough ventilators. He also said that the overflow hospitals built by the federal government are no longer needed if hospitalizations continue to drop.
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