Gov.
Kathy Hochul held a COVID-19 briefing on Monday where she laid out her plans to
battle back the COVID-19 surge brought on by the omicron variant.
The
“winter surge plan” does not call for any statewide shutdowns, saying that
residents have the tools they need to avoid that through vaccinations, boosters
and masks.
Hochul said the state is preparing for the worst but
acknowledged that New York and the nation are in a different position
than 2020 – mainly due to the availability of vaccines and the apparently
mostly mild symptoms brought on by the variant.
The
surge plan includes sending $65 million to local governments, including money
to enforce mask and vaccine requirements. But the governor also said she
will not single out counties where leaders have said they would not enforce the
mandates.
"There
are some counties where they want this to be followed but they just don't have
the personnel either so, we're not going to be doing anything other than
lending the support to them and having some spot checks and providing the
assistance because we've been asked for help,” said Hochul. “…This is
our policy, the New York state requirement that there be a mask worn in any
facility that does not require vaccinations, so that is our rules, so we're
here to continue enforcement, as well as providing resources for the counties
that ask for it."
Hochul said seven new state testing sites, including one
in Nassau County, are set to open soon. She says there's a plan to send out 10
million free at-home tests upon request – 2 million of those will be going to
schools.
“We
are keeping schools open,” she said.
Hochul
said districts can follow the “Test to Stay” protocols, which
include just a rapid test for student to return to school. She said she
plans to give parents those rapid tests when the kids go back to school in
January.
The
state is also calling on the federal government to invoke the Defense Production
Act, to get more manufacturers making over-the-counter tests to
ensure there are tests available for anyone who needs them.
At the
very beginning of her briefing, the governor announced that Dr. Mary Travis
Bassett, New York's health commissioner, tested positive for COVID-19 on a
rapid test. She will be getting a PCR test, as well.