Schoharie County recorded 197 COVID cases as of Monday with numbers expected to increase significantly both locally and across the state and country after Thanksgiving get-togethers.
It’s small gatherings like that that are driving the increase in the numbers of cases by as much as 65 percent, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing Monday where he also unveiled his plan for combating COVID-19 this winter.
The state’s COVID Task Force has worked in consultation with global public health experts and local governments to build the plan, made up of five targeted strategies focused on mitigating the spread of the virus and bolstering New York State hospital preparedness:
_ Continue and strengthen the state’s Targeted Micro-Cluster Strategy while managing hospital capacity to enhance and equalize care.
_ Increasing and balancing testing resources and availability.
_ Keeping schools open safely.
_ Prevent COVID’s spread from small gatherings.
_ Developing and implementing an equitable and safe vaccination program.
“While the holiday season often brings joy to many, the increase in social activity and mobility will also bring an increase of viral transmission. We understand the cause and effect, and the effect is dramatic,” Governor Cuomo said.
“We must adapt to this reality and have a plan in place that specifically addresses the challenges that come with it. We've been through the worst, and while we're not done yet, we are moving forward with the lessons we learned in the spring to come through this together.”
Since Governor Cuomo first launched New York's micro-cluster strategy in mid-October, it has proven effective in identifying targeted areas with high infection rates and implementing additional restrictions to reduce viral spread in the micro-cluster area.
Under New York's Winter COVID-19 Plan, this strategy will be strengthened through additional, hospital-related metrics to provide a clearer picture of where a zone stands in the fight against COVID and how each neighborhood, municipality, and other geographic area contributes to daily hospital admission.
Under this improved strategy, the New York State Department of Health will include factors such as regional hospital bed capacity, ICU capacity, staffing ratios, and daily hospital admissions as part of the analysis and metrics used to determine which geographic areas qualify as micro-cluster zones.
In addition to the three existing micro-cluster zone levels (Yellow Precautionary, Orange Warning and Red), New York will also add a new “Emergency Stop” level, which will effectively put that area under the NY Pause guidelines, if needed to preserve hospital capacity.
The state will also take steps to increase the amount of testing available statewide—especially to schools.
“Not only does school provide parents with support in terms of childcare, it provides a regularity to life which has been missing for so many children throughout this pandemic,” Governor Cuomo said.
As it did with public campaigns urging mask compliance, the state will also will be launching a public education campaign to highlight how small gatherings can lead to the spread of COVID-19 in the community.