'How much is a human life worth?' Gov. Cuomo outlines pitfalls of reopening too quickly

Projection models have doubled the number of expected deaths because of reopening acceleration.

News 12 Staff

May 5, 2020, 3:13 PM

Updated 1,543 days ago

Share:

Projection models have doubled the number of expected deaths in the United States due to COVID-19 because of reopening acceleration in many states.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during his daily briefing that the projection made by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation jumped from 60,000 to 135,000, which "reflects increased human mobility and the easing of social distancing measures in many U.S. states."
“The faster we reopen, the lower the economic cost, but the more lives will be lost,” he said. He called every human life “priceless.”
undefined
The governor also called for an end to partisan politics and for the federal government to help states reboot their economies through funding. Gov. Cuomo was reacting to President Donald Trump’s statements to the New York Post where he says Democratic states have been mismanaged for years and shouldn’t get a “bailout:”
"What government does today will literally determine how many people live and how many people die,” said the governor. "This is not mismanagement by the states, if anything the mismanagement has been on behalf of the federal government, and that is where the mismanagement has gone back decades."
New York lost another 230 residents to the pandemic on Monday.
Briefing Notes
  • The number of new hospitalizations is down in the state.
  • Cuomo: 230 New Yorkers died yesterday due to COVID-19.
  • Gov. Cuomo: Reopening the economy will be about "following the data."
  • "We endured the pain. Let's benefit from the gain." Gov. Cuomo says there are important lessons to be learned from the pandemic. 
  • The subways will be shutdown overnight for disinfecting.
  • One of the areas we can really learn from is education. How can we use technology to provide more opportunities to students no matter where they are.
  • On reopening: How much is a human life worth? There's a cost for staying closed and there's a cost for reopening too quickly.
  • The faster we reopen the lower the economic cost, but the more lives will be lost. Gov. Cuomo says a human life is "priceless." 
  • Projection models have doubled the number of expected deaths because of reopening acceleration.
  • On federal government partisanship: "What government does today will literally determine how many people live and how many people die."
  • "This is not mismanagement by the states, if anything the mismanagement has been on behalf of the federal government, and that is where the mismanagement has gone back decades."
  • Gov. Cuomo's daughter, Mariah, to volunteer with new mask program. More details here: WearAMask.NY.Gov.
PHOTOS: Coronavirus heroes
undefined
PHOTOS: Countries around the world cope with COVID-19
undefined


More from News 12
2:05
Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

Zillow report: 28 LI communities have million-dollar starter homes

1:32
Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

Wonderful weekend ahead with shower chances early next week

0:25
Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

Police: 5 officers injured while arresting man in West Hempstead

1:22
Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

Justin Timberlake to be arraigned again for DWI next week

2:01
Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

Bay Shore Christian School parents left without answers as school owners move to shut down programs

2:04
Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

Another huge turnout at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

1:58
LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

LI program gets kids & parents ready to start school

1:28
Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

Local Summer Olympics watch party happening in Copiague

2:02
Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Brooklyn man facing assault charges, accused of driving into pedestrians outside Eastern Suffolk BOCES

0:18
Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

Sen. Schumer announces $24 million in federal funding to revitalize downtown Riverhead

0:36
Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

Ceremony honors 24 students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine

1:44
The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

The Real Deal: How to save on expenses amid rising costs in New York

0:33
State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

State report: Long Island has lowest percentage of bridges in poor condition

1:40
Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

Food Truck Friday: The Cone Depot

0:20
Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

Suffolk police officers help woman deliver baby in Amityville

3:44
Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

Deer Park teen blacklisted by bank after falling for a fake check scam

1:18
Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

Farm owner: 2 goats, 3 sheep dead after toxic bushes were thrown into pen on East End

1:59
Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

Police: Scammers falsely reporting damage on people's properties before damaging it further

1:46
'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

'It’s just treacherous.' Calls for change grow along busy Nassau road amid multiple crashes

1:41
Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516

Teens learn skills needed to become firefighters at Camp Fahrenheit 516