Hey, I found this timeline of @AndrewCuomo's public statements/actions on COVID-19 and it's a brain-refresher for ppl with diminished memory function like me. THREAD:
Cuomo, Jan 29: "My message to New Yorkers is: take this coronavirus seriously, take proper precautions, stay informed, but also feel confident that our Health Department and this administration are prepared and ready”
Cuomo, Feb 2: "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."
Cuomo, Feb 2: "Perspective is key & I want to remind ppl that NY currently has zero confirmed cases of this virus. We want all NYers to know that the State & its agencies & authorities are on top of this situation & we will continue doing everything we can to keep people safe.”
Cuomo's Health Commissioner, Feb. 26: Cuomo’s Health commissioner: “I was very confident about what [CDC is] working on and they’re addressing this.”
Cuomo, Feb. 26: "It’s highly probable that we will have people in NY state that will test positive.” The governor says during his tenure, the state has gone through a number of public health crisis successfully, he says there’s no need for “undue fear.”
Cuomo, Feb26:“While there r still no confirmed cases of COVID19 in NY, these aggressive actions incl $40mil in emrgncy fundng will help ensure our healthcare sys. is equipd w/ the ncssry staff,supplies &equipmt needed 2 respond 2 any emgcy situation that may arise in the future.”
Cuomo, Mar 1: "There is no reason for undue anxiety -- the general risk remains low in New York. We are diligently managing this situation and will continue to provide information as it becomes available.”
Cuomo, Mar 2: "We should relax, because that's what's dictated by the reality of the situation." Referring to the disease as “the flu on steroids,” officials urged people to take similar precautions: frequently wash your hands & cover your mouth & nose when you sneeze and cough.
Cuomo, Mar 2: "This isn't our first rodeo," the governor recalled SARS, MERS, Ebola, swine flu, etc. "I'm telling you it is inevitable but that this will continue to spread," he said, adding that 80 percent of people who contract the virus will "self-resolve.”
Cuomo, Mar 4: "This is literally like trying to stop air, because somebody sneezes, it’s respiratory and it’s inevitable that it will continue to spread."
Mar 5: "Cuomo tried the tamp down public anxiety, saying 80% of the ppl who become infected may not even know they have it, 'just like the flu.'"
Cuomo, Mar 5 cont.: “Look at the stock market, right. It could have an affect on the national economy. It could have an impact on the global economy depending on how it’s perceived. The numbers are going up. It’s like the stock market going down everyday.”
Mar 7: "You know what’s worse than the virus — the anxiety,” Mr. Cuomo said, noting that most patients would suffer mild or no symptoms.
Cuomo,Mar 8:"What we’re really trying 2 do here is avoid the massive disruption of closing everything dn for 2 wks the way China did,the way Italy is doing &we’re trying 2 protect the vulnerable pops for whom this virus cd really be dangerous:senior citizens, immune-compromised.”
Cuomo, Mar 8 cont: "Cuomo also downplayed the seriousness of the virus itself, noting that it is like “a bad flu,” and not serious unless one is part of these vulnerable populations. “We’re not dealing with Ebola virus, we’re not dealing with a SARS virus,” he said."
Cuomo, Mar 9: "If a student tests positive in a schl, the school is closed for an initial 24hr period so we can do an assessmen." If there are continued concerns about the school after that, “it’s fair to say we’re talking about a number of wks’’ before it would reopen, he said."
Mar 10: "Asked if people should be staying away from airports, Cuomo said: “We have this mass fear, mass hysteria. It is the vulnerable population, senior citizens, yes, think twice before getting on a plane,” he continued.
Cuomo Mar 10 cont: “Ppl w/ pre-existing conditions, yes,think twice before going to a large gathering. “A person with a compromised immune system,yes, think twice before getting on a flight, going to a gathering, public transportation, etc., those ppl,yes,general population, no."
Cuomo,Mar 11:"They hear the fed gvmt & I understand the theory is ‘downplay it,minimize it &maybe it will go away.’ This is not going 2 be minimized & it ends up making it worse.We r beyond wash your hands, my brother.There is going 2 have 2 be major shifts in society short trm.”
Cuomo, Mar 12: “This is going to get much worse before it gets better. That was always the fact.”
Cuomo, Mar 13: "This is not going to be a quick situation. This is going to be weeks, months. My guess is there are thousands and thousands of cases walking around the state of New York.”
Cuomo,Mar 13:"The panic is the problem..Here the panic,the anxiety,it’s ppl getting afraid 2 get on a pub. bus.They could b afraid 2 get on a subway..The panic could b more destructive than the virus."Ppl have 2 understand this is not a death sentence,” he added. “It’s just not.”
Mar 13: "On Friday, during Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily press conference, he said school districts will be the ones to decide if they choose to close due to the coronavirus."
Mar 15:"Cuomo said he had good reason not to issue a statewide shutdown of schools in NY state during the coronavirus pandemic.'It’s a different picture all across the state. We have Downstate NY, we have Upstate NY, we virtually have some counties that have no cases whatsoever."
Mar 16:"Cuomo's asking NY biz's 2 allow employees to wk from home &2 consider voluntarily closing due 2 the outbreak. "Depending on what businesses do, we could consider mandatory actions later on," he sd. “Voluntarily close dn.Voluntarily close dn yr bar, yr restaurant, yr gym."
Mar 16: "As several counties declare states of emergency & close schls, Cuomo said that it's 'not easy' 2 temporarily shutter schls. His main concern is that a statewide action would create a childcare crisis 4 families."
Later on Mar 16: "Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo, stated in a press conference that he will be declaring that all schools in New York State will suspend classes from Wednesday, March 18 – April 1"
Mar 18: "Cuomo said that such drastic policies would create more fear. 'That is not going to happen, shelter in place, for NYC. For any city or county 2 take an emergency action, the state has 2 approve it. And I wouldn’t approve shelter in place.'"
Cuomo, Mar 20: "This is a war, we have to treat it like a war. The healthcare system is going to be overwhelmed. The question is to what extent and with what consequence. We are going to have more patients than we can deal with."
