In New York State, the epicenter of the US coronavirus epidemic, there has been a first drop in the number of infections.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said in his daily press briefing that “All indications are that we are in a downward phase.”
Besides, the governor persists: “The continuation of this decline will depend on what we do”. and insists that “We have to stay smart and coordinated…. And don’t compromise. ” For this purpose, the containment measures are extended until May 15.
CONTAINMENT OR NOT CONAINMENT?
However, demonstrations have multiplied across the United States to demand the end of containment measures and the revival of economic activities.
It should be noted that, as of today, New York State registers more than 236,000 confirmed infected cases which represent almost a third of confirmed cases throughout the United States. Since the start of the epidemic, the number of deaths has reached more than 13,000 deaths, according to the latest figures available on more than 40,000 people nationwide.
The governor also announced massive statewide serology tests next week to determine “exactly how many people have been infected with the virus.”
The deconfinement strategy remains problematic due to the economic recession and the collapse of oil prices. While President Donald Trump wants a quick and total deconfinement to revive the economy, some governors including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island opt for a soft and reasoned strategy of deconfinement.
“The challenge is to bring testing up to scale. We asked the top 50 labs in the state what they would need to double their testing, and they all said the same thing: they need more chemical reagents. We need the federal government to oversee the supply chain and help get labs what they need.” Governor Cuomo
The Democratic Governor of New York, in opposition to President Trump, stresses that: “Now is not the time to send different messages,” he said. “If people don’t trust their government, if they think it’s chaos or confusion in our policies, that would be a terrible message to send.”
