Andrew Cuomo: Stimulus Bill And Vaccination At The End Of A ‘Long Tunnel’ Mark Light
Governor Andrew Cuomo said the home stretch is coming for New Yorkers in the COVID-19 fight, Quipping that he was going to apply a little New York Clean hand sanitizer to Pfizer’s new vaccine to clear his arteries.
In the meantime, federal support for state and local governments for hospital capability as well as addressing cynicism shared by a hefty proportion of the populace remain the radar of his administration with officials providing stepping stones in Washington in which Cuomo found some hope.
A $908 billion bill unveiled on Wednesday that would give $160 billion federally to financially troubled states was one cause for optimism.
Gov. Cuomo said that up until March, it would be a short term bill. Before they quit and so that families have money for the holiday season, he will encourage them to get this first down payment bill approved, and it takes some burden away from state and local governments. They’d have to come back and make a real bill next year too.
“National Governors Association as Democrats and Republicans, we sent the letter supporting a $500 billion state and local package. This bill has $160 billion in state and local funding. So it’s, not nearly what the governor’s asked for of this country. But again, something is better than nothing.”
The time of whether or where this bill is passed and when the vaccine will be readily available, according to Cuomo, suggests that New Yorkers will have to buckle down again. With 53,000 beds in hospitals in the state, it would bring the total hospital capacity to 75,000 by ending elective surgeries.
While vaccines will begin delivery to 170,000 New Yorkers starting on Dec. 15, Cuomo expects Pfizer and Moderna to be suspicious of the vaccines produced by around 50 percent of the population. It may take more than funds and time, however persuasion, to hit a 75 percent vaccination rate in New York.
The governor plans to publicly take the vaccine himself, just as before amid a spring news conference, he allowed himself to be swabbed for COVID-19.
“We are working very hard to be ready for the distribution and training people on the distribution to make sure it’s all done correctly. But this is the weapon. That is going to win the war. And that is the light at the end of the tunnel, right. So, it’s no tomorrow. It’s not a short tunnel. But we know the way through this, we just have to get there. And we have to get there with as little loss of life as possible,” Cuomo added.
He also said that there is no excuse for not having an aggressive black and brown neighborhood outreach campaign. But the government would have to do its part. People will have to do their bit, too, and they will have to embrace this vaccine.
Through opening a box loaded with empty vials along with all the required accessories to monitor and hold the bottles cool. The governor showed how intricate the administration of the vaccine would be. For a person 21 days apart one small vial would be able to prescribe six doses with two required.
