ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave a COVID-19 update Wednesday morning, providing some good news for Western New Yorkers.
Governor Cuomo says it appears that Western New York has flattened the curve in terms of the percent of population hospitalized in the region. Cuomo says the rate is varied across the state.
However, the rate in Western New York is going in the right direction.
"Western New York seems to have flattened and is reducing," Cuomo said. "That is good news. We've been steadfast on the message there. I think people get it, and people are understanding."
The governor also mentioned that the Southern Tier region is doing well.
"I think we've been really doing extraordinarily well over the last 10-14 days and particularly Erie County, which has really been the leader in tamping down the number of new cases in the WNY region," according to University at Buffalo's Chief of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Thomas Russo.
At this time, there are 527 people in Western New York hospitals, which equates to .04 percent of the area's population. Meanwhile in the Southern Tier, 177 people are hospitalized, which equates to .03 percent of the area's population.
While the percent of the population hospitalized has improved, hospital capacity in Western New York is in line with the statewide average. Seventy-five percent of hospital beds in Western New York are full.
Cuomo called out the Finger Lakes region, saying that area has been a problem for the past few weeks.
"Finger Lakes is not doing well. That's been a problem for the last couple of weeks. The Finger Lakes is now more of a problem than Buffalo," Cuomo said.
Governor Cuomo also addressed the topic of a possible "close-down" of New York due to COVID-19. The governor says other states are closing down because they have higher numbers than New York.
Cuomo added that a close-down is possible in January; however, says that no one knows for sure, because that answer is up to New Yorkers.
"No one knows because it is up to us," Cuomo said. "What will happen in three weeks? What will happen in four weeks? You tell me what you're going to do over the next three weeks or four weeks, and I will tell you what's going to happen."
The governor says "anything is possible" but stresses that the actions of New Yorkers will ultimately decide what happens next.
In order to avoid a close-down Cuomo says New York must slow the spread, manage the hospitals, and administer the vaccine.
Under the topic of slowing the spread, Cuomo says New Yorkers have a personal responsibility to help slow the spread, saying people have to be smart. The governor once again called upon local governments, telling them to enforce the rules.
Cuomo also announced two more PSA campaigns, encouraging New Yorkers to have a healthy holiday season.
In regard to managing hospitals, Cuomo says the New York State Department of Health will be sending a letter to all New York hospitals, saying all hospitals must shift to "crisis management mode." Under crisis hospital management, hospitals must balance patient loads within systems. The state says hospital systems must form agreements with neighboring systems to share patient loads.
"I want hospital managers to know that this is serious. It's one thing to run a hospital on a sunny day. It's another thing to run a hospital in the middle of a pandemic. They have to run hospitals in the middle of a pandemic. We went through the spring. This is not a case of first impression. We learned lessons from the spring. I understand it's a culture change. I understand the bureaucracy doesn't want to do it. I also understand they have to do it, and if they are competent hospital administrators, they will do it," said Cuomo.
For vaccines, Cuomo says the state has begun phase one of the vaccinations in New York. The governor says as the vaccinations go up, the COVID-19 rate will go down, but it will take time. According to the governor, the vaccine distribution is a "foot race" that will take place over a six to nine month period.
New York has received over 87,000 doses of the vaccine so far. The state expects an additional 80,000 Pfizer vaccines, which will arrive over the next few days. Cuomo says this will start the vaccination program for residents and staff at nursing homes.
Cuomo once again stressed that New York State is distributing the vaccines to all regions proportionately.
"We have been planning for the vaccine, now we're implementing that plan and we're ensuring New Yorkers can access the vaccine free of charge," Cuomo said in a press release.
If the Moderna vaccine gets final approval, the Governor says 346,000 doses of it should get here December 22.
People getting the vaccine in Phase 2 will include essential workers and priority people in the general public - people who have underlying health conditions. For Phase 2, each region has vaccination hub. Western New York's is Catholic Health.
"Medical professionals are going to administer Phase 2 by state guidelines, but it's gonna be done by medical professionals. The state has done guidelines for Phase 2. Those regional hubs we call them will create a regional plan for that region for Phase 2," said Cuomo on Wednesday.
The state will then have to approve those plans before Phase 2 can start.
The plans are due the first week of January, with people in Phase 2 getting the vaccine starting in late January if this timeline sticks. There's also a new website where you can find out when you should be able to get the vaccine.
COVID-19 numbers statewide do continue to grow. Patients hospitalized statewide grew by 115, to 6,097 people currently hospitalized. There were 823 patients newly admitted on Tuesday, and 599 people discharged.
Patients in the ICU grew by 33, with 1,098 people hospitalized currently in ICUs. Of those people in ICUs, the number of people who had to be intubated grew by 31, to 611.
Eighteen people died locally from COVID-19 on Tuesday, out of a total 95 people who died statewide that same day. There are now 28,100 people who have died from COVID-19 in New York State.
"New Yorkers always set the bar high and with what we went through in the spring, I want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to be the first state to kill this beast - so please, wear a mask, wash your hands and continue to socially distance," Cuomo added.