New preventive plan of 15 points, also advises, avoid unnecessary crowds, to people with chronic health conditions
The New York City Health authorities have insisted that since six weeks prior to the appearance of the first cases of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the Big Apple, they have been analyzing all angles, in the event of an outbreak emerging. Although in principle, it was made clear that New Yorkers they would have no reason to abandon their social contact routinesNow the official exhortations take a different course.
This Wednesday, at a round table with the New York media and when the number of cases in the Big Apple reaches 53, the authorities of the Big Apple exposed the details of a new information campaign that includes fifteen basic recommendations, which will be distributed in the city, in more than 12 languages.
Mayor Bill de Blasio reacted to some criticism of the changes the City has had to address the advancement of the new virus. He asserted that the scientific community “is still trying to understand this disease. The situation in each country is different, we are refining strategies every day to stop its impact. We have a health system that will be able to respond to more complicated scenarios. “
Staying home for any symptoms similar to a flu or cold, avoid unnecessary crowds and also the subway cars packed with passengers, are one of the maxims of the package of recommendations, whose disclosure will be massified in the coming days.
“One of the aspects that will have the most impact in putting barriers to the spread of the virus is to insist on people who present symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or sore throat, stay home, and if they don’t feel better within 24 to 48 hours, they should seek medical attention, ”said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
Wait another car!
The other advice, which will be a basic line in the prevention plan, is to try to reduce crowds at all costs. To do this, it is suggested if possible to work remotely. Too, It is recommended to avoid, within the possibilities of each one, taking the public transport systems in times of great congestion.
Wait another car. Change your hours if you have that flexibility, take a bike, walk. We want to be clear about the role and responsibility that all New Yorkers have in this crisis“Said the municipal president.
In this same battle line, to try to curb the number of contagious infections, a call is made to protect the most vulnerable people, avoiding unnecessary meetings and events, if you have a chronic condition such as lung, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system.
“It is important to remember that among the 80 and 90% of all of us could be reached by Covid-19 and we will be fine. We may have mild symptoms, period. We need to protect those who are most at risk, who are our older adults and people who have these pre-existing conditions, “reasoned Dr. Raúl Perea-Henze, Deputy Mayor for Health Services and Social Affairs of the City.
The official stressed that the government team is betting, in the midst of this crisis, that New Yorkers try to live normally, as much as possible, but with the basic precautions that the different government agencies will share.
NYC with more testing capacity
The New York City Public Health Laboratory can perform 60 to 80 Covid-19 discard tests per day. Starting this week, two commercial laboratories expanded the possibility of these tests, which will be an important point to beat the advance of the virus.
“Our goal is to complete an average of 5,000 tests in one week. For this reason, we have made alliances with private laboratories and clinics. That is one of our main lines of defense, to detect more quickly who are infected. It is important to note that 28 more laboratories, throughout the State, are being approved to do the removal, “he concluded. Perea-Henze.
“We act with a scalpel not with a mallet”
Spokesmen for the Big Apple government, in the midst of a crisis that seems not to be taking short breaks They confess that future orientations could continue to change.
“I have refused to take actions that could cause negative dynamics in the communities. A simple example is the closure of schools. We have had to determine the correct way to approach a situation in a school, not with a sledgehammer, but with a scalpel. We think of a very precise approach, so as not to think about a suspension, thinking rationally about health“Said the head of the local government.
De blasio He reminded New Yorkers that legal immigration status and lack of health insurance should not be reasons to avoid going to a public health center.
The first coronavirus patient was detected in NY on March 1, in eleven days the number shot up to 212 cases. The authorities estimate that at the rate of carrying out more special tests of removal, “an avalanche of new cases” will be detected.
Look for more information
- For real-time updates on coronavirus in NYC visit nyc.gov/coronavirus
- Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination or if you want information on how to navigate the health system regardless of your legal status. There is a service in Spanish.
- If you suffer anxiety or panic attacks in the presence of this viral picture, You can call 24 hours a day at 8-8-8-NYCWELL and speak to a trained counselor.
NY coronavirus advance
- 212 cases confirmed of coronavirus in the state of New York until this Wednesday.
- 53 patients with Covid-19 in the five counties of the Big Apple until the closing of this edition.
- 32 patients are hospitalizeds of all diagnosed, which means 15% of those infected.
- 121 cases so far in Westchester, being ascendingly the most affected county in NY.
- 0 deaths associated in New York by the new viral disease.
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