5/10/2020 Numbers: Beacon On This Day; Dutchess County Changes Reporting Data For Death Counts, Resulting In Increase

On May 7, 2020, Dutchess County announced that they are changing the way they report data for those who have died from COVID-19, as well as several other key data points that include total number of confirmed cases, and total number of tests completed, to be effective on May 8, 2020. They will be using New York State’s numbers. Results via Google’s search results consistently gave a higher count for Dutchess County.

Of the counties that A Little Beacon Blog tracks for these reports - Orange and Putnam - both matched Google results with the number of deceased. Dutchess County’s was always lower: say 36 in Dutchess County’s Tracker vs 70 in Google’s Tracker.

As explained by Dutchess County in their 5/7/2020 announcement of the change:

The New York State Department of Health has authority and oversight over many of the facilities reporting case data, including hospitals and nursing homes. These facilities are not required to report to local health departments, including the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH). While DBCH does communicate regularly with each of the individual facilities and has been getting some of the data from them, it is difficult to reconcile on a daily basis with the state data and creates confusion for the public. Additionally, State data can include presumed positive cases in fatality numbers, unlike the data reported by local health departments.

DBCH was recently provided access to the New York State Health Emergency Reporting Data System (HERDS), however, the data is reported in the aggregate and does not provide the necessary specificity for county reporting.

Active case data, which are the cases that DBCH are currently monitoring, will continue to be reported by DBCH as well as the breakdown by municipality and number of recoveries...Dutchess County’s COVID-19 Community Impact Data Dashboard will continue to be updated daily, following NYSDOH data updates.

Beacon’s number of Active COVID-19 cases was rising as of 5/10/2020. This last report on 5/10/2020 was at 146. The last time we recorded it in our spreadsheet was 5/4/2020 and the number of active cases was 137. Not a huge difference, but a consistent increase nonetheless.

One might argue: “Well, the number of people tested is going up, so that must be the reason.” And that may be. However, the daily percentage of those who test positive for COVID-19 for the day - of those tested - has remained consistent. We track that number also. The percentage of people who test positive from those tested per day has been at 8%-9% in the last few days. Additionally, the number of tests issued in Dutchess County, according to the tracker, has remained consistent, averaging in the 400s tests given per day.

While some “low-risk” business types can open state-wide in New York on Friday (drive-in movie theaters, landscaping/gardening, tennis) Dutchess County has 3 more criteria to hit before meeting the 7 state requirements to begin reopening, which are:

• 14-Day Decline in Hospital Deaths OR fewer than 5 deaths (3-day average).

• New Hospitalizations (under 2 per 100k residents - 3 day rolling average.

• At least 30 contact tracers per 100k residents.

County Executive Marcus Molinaro has announced, during his 5/11/2020 restarting video, that he will deliver live updates about the data in Dutchess County on Wednesdays and Fridays. This Wednesday, he will host a Town Hall at 5:30pm. Videos are at Facebook, or at at the Dutchess County channel at YouTube.

The last time we published reporting on these numbers was 5/1/2020. This gap of 11 days is for no other reason that Distance Learning started in our home, and while we get into that rhythm of that schooling, finishing articles got a little tricky. We have several unpublished drafts, though!

However, in that time, Dutchess County changed how they are reporting, and New York launched a new regional tracker for the re-opening. So, one must not delay!

Sources:
New York State Tracker: Updated daily.
Dutchess County Tracker: Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes.
Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2-3 days, according to their Source notes.
Putnam County Tracker: Updated daily.
Google via Wikipedia
Testing is limited, which implies that people testing positive for COVID-19 is not total, as many people are not tested.

DUTCHESS COUNTY 5/10/2020

How Many People Tested In Dutchess County:
18,964 (last week 15,558 via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day:
3,359 (last week, 3,049, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested This Day:
471 (last week 473, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE This Day:
47 (last week 48, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
56 (last week 69, via Dutchess County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
101 (last week 38, via Dutchess County Tracker, but Google shows 84 (previous 73)

BEACON
Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon On This Day:
146 (last week 134, via Dutchess County Tracker)

FISHKILL
Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill On This Day:
174 (last week 175, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill On This Day:
153 (last week 151, via Dutchess County Tracker)

WAPPINGERS
Active COVID-19 Cases In Town of Wappingers On This Day:
136 (last week 163, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village On This Day:
40 (last week 45, via Dutchess County Tracker)

ORANGE COUNTY 5/10/2020

How Many People Tested In Orange County:
34,404 (last week 28,848, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE In Total:
9,543 (last week 8,910, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested On This Day:
535 (last week 839, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day:
57 (last week 159, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
99 (last week 147) (via Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
367 (last week 329, via Orange County Tracker)

NEWBURGH
Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh On This Day:
645 (last week 587, via Orange County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh On This Day:
1,314 (last week 1,165, via Orange County Tracker)

PUTNAM COUNTY 5/10/2020

Did not grab data in time for this report.

PHILIPSTOWN
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Total In Philipstown As Of This Day:

Did not grab data in time for this report.

(5/1/2020) COVID-19 Numbers for Beacon (on the rise), Fishkill, Wappingers, Newburgh, Philipstown

Today was a beautiful day, and tomorrow may be as well. It’s hard to remember about the virus when the weather is so nice. Mask and face coverings by people on Main Street in Beacon has been mixed but good. Social distancing practices encouraged by most eateries and essential businesses has also been good. It should also be noted that we are past the 2 week mark since the Easter and Passover holidays, which is when people may have broken “sphere lock” and joined with family members not normally quarantining together in their homes for a family gathering. Family and friend gatherings, or gatherings in groups like on a bar patio, have been known to be a time period of virus spread.

Active cases in Beacon are on the rise, with today’s Active Case count being 134. When A Little Beacon Blog first started tracking this in our Excel spreadsheet back on 4/25/2020, the Active Case count was 110 just a week ago. The Active Case count is a fluctuating number that can go up or down, and is presumed that the Active Cases are people who continue to test positive and are fighting the virus.

[UPDATE: Edit made to this article based on population of Town of Wappingers].

The number of people testing positive per day has remained in the high 40s for each of Beacon, Fishkill and Wappingers. As for Orange County, who is testing more people than Dutchess County, they continue to see an increase in the number of people testing positive (101 people yesterday, 159 people today), while the Active Case Count remains at 587 in Orange County.

Sources:
New York State Tracker: Updated daily.
Dutchess County Tracker: Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes.
Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2-3 days, according to their Source notes.
Putnam County Tracker: Updated daily.
Google via Wikipedia
Testing is limited, which implies that people testing positive for COVID-19 is not total, as many people are not tested.

DUTCHESS COUNTY 5/01/2020

How Many People Tested In Dutchess County:
15,558 (yesterday 15,085 via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day:
3,049 (yesterday, 3,002, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested This Day:
473 (previous day 443, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE This Day:
47 (previous day 48, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
69 (yesterday 69, via Dutchess County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
38 (yesterday 37, via Dutchess County Tracker, but Google shows 73 (previous 70))

BEACON
Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon On This Day:
134 (yesterday 129, via Dutchess County Tracker)

FISHKILL
Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill On This Day:
175 (yesterday 171, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill On This Day:
151 (yesterday 146, via Dutchess County Tracker)

WAPPINGERS
Active COVID-19 Cases In Town of Wappingers On This Day:
163 (yesterday 162, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village On This Day:
45 (yesterday 44, via Dutchess County Tracker)

ORANGE COUNTY 5/01/2020

How Many People Tested In Orange County:
28,848 (yesterday 28,009, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE In Total:
8,910 (yesterday 8,751, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested On This Day:
839 (previously 787, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day:
159 (previously 101, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
147 (yesterday 147) (via Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
329 (yesterday 329, via Orange County Tracker)

NEWBURGH
Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh On This Day:
587 (587, via Orange County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh On This Day:
1,165 (1,165, via Orange County Tracker)

PUTNAM COUNTY 5/01/2020

How Many People Tested In Putnam County:
4,429 (yesterday 4,170, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day:
1,003 (yesterday 990, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested On This Day:
115 (previously 144, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day:
13 (previously 20, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
20 (via Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
45 (yesterday 45, via Putnam County Tracker)

PHILIPSTOWN
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Total In Philipstown As Of This Day:
102 (yesterday 98, via Putnam County Tracker)
Putnam doesn’t seem to publish an “Active Cases” per city/town/village number like Dutchess and Orange do. “Active Cases” can fluctuate up or down. “Confirmed Cases” only go up, as they are cumulative.

(4/30/2020) COVID-19 Numbers for Beacon, Newburgh, Fishkill, Wappingers, Philipstown

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Beacon and Wappingers went up by a handful. Newburgh’s active cases continues to rise.

Sources:
Dutchess County Tracker:
Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes.
Orange County Tracker:
Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2-3 days, according to their Source notes.
Putnam County Tracker:
Updated daily.
Google via Wikipedia
Testing is limited, which implies that people testing positive for COVID-19 is not total, as they are not tested.

DUTCHESS COUNTY 4/30/2020

How Many People Tested In Dutchess County:
15,085 (yesterday 14,215, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day:
3,002 (yesterday, 2,881, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested This Day:
443 (previous day 556, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE This Day:
48 (previous day 64, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
69 (yesterday 64, via Dutchess County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
37 (via Dutchess County Tracker, but Google shows 70)

BEACON
Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon On This Day:
129 (yesterday 114, via Dutchess County Tracker)

FISHKILL
Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill On This Day:
171 (yesterday 170, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill On This Day:
146 (yesterday 152, via Dutchess County Tracker)

WAPPINGERS
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers On This Day:
162 (yesterday 152, via Dutchess County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village On This Day:
44 (yesterday 42, via Dutchess County Tracker)

ORANGE COUNTY 4/28/2020

How Many People Tested In Orange County:
28,009 (yesterday 26,342, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE In Total:
8,751 (yesterday 8,488, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested On This Day:
787 (previously 606, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day:
101 (previously 114, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
147 (yesterday 153) (via Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
329 (yesterday 311, via Orange County Tracker)

NEWBURGH
Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh On This Day:
587 (534, via Orange County Tracker)
Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh On This Day:
1,165 (1,044, via Orange County Tracker)

PUTNAM COUNTY 4/28/2020

How Many People Tested In Putnam County:
4,170 (yesterday 4,170, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day:
990 (yesterday 970, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested On This Day:
144 (previously 251, via New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day:
20 (previously 24, via New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day:
NA (via Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day:
45 (yesterday 43, via Putnam County Tracker)

PHILIPSTOWN
Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Philipstown As Of This Day:
Putnam doesn’t seem to publish an “Active Cases” number like Dutchess and Orange do.
98 (via Putnam County Tracker)

(4/27/2020) COVID-19 Numbers for Beacon, Newburgh, Fishkill, Wappingers

Numbers for Dutchess County have decreased since yesterday’s report. The number of tests decreased, and the number of people from the testing group testing positive decreased. So far, the number of deaths remains at 36, and the number of hospitalized decreased to 77 (previously 79).

In Orange County, the number of deaths increased from 299 to 310, and the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Orange County decreased by almost the same amount. The number of tests in Orange County increased yesterday.

Sources: New York State COVID-19 Tracker, Dutchess County COVID-19 Tracker, Orange County COVID-19 Tracker
Dutchess County Tracker: Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes.
Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2 to 3 days, according to their Source notes.
New York State Tracker: Updated daily.
Testing is limited.

DUTCHESS COUNTY 4/27/2020

How Many People Tested In Dutchess County:
13,649 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Positive So Far:
2,817 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Today:
223 (previous day 389) (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today:
24 (previous day 64) (New York State Tracker)
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now:
77 (yesterday 79) (Dutchess County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far:
36 (no change reported) (Dutchess County Tracker)

BEACON
Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon As Of Today:
114 (yesterday 117) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Beacon?
4.04%

FISHKILL
Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill As Of Today:
174 (yesterday 181) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Fishkill?
6.18%
Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill As Of Today:
155 (yesterday 163) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In East Fishkill?
5.5%

WAPPINGERS
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers As Of Today:
155 (yesterday 157) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers?
5.5%
Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village As Of Today:
43 (yesterday 46) (Dutchess County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers Falls Village?
1.53%

ORANGE COUNTY 4/27/2020

How Many People Tested In Orange County:
25,740 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Positive So Far:
8,374 (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested Today:
645 (previously 587) (New York State Tracker)
How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today:
136 (previously 132) (New York State Tracker
Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now:
168 (yesterday 183) (Orange County Tracker)
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far:
310 (yesterday 299) (Orange County Tracker)

NEWBURGH
Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh As Of Today:
534 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In Newburgh?
6.48%
Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh As Of Today:
1,044 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker)
Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In City of Newburgh?
12.67%

Unnamed Prisoner Graves and New Release Of Inmates Meeting A Certain Set Of Criteria

Two yesterdays ago, on April 16, 2020, Beacon Prison Action sent a press release regarding multiple new unmarked graves being dug at the Fishkill Correctional Facility. Beacon Prison Action consists of c​ommunity members in the Beacon/Fishkill/Newburgh area, and is most active through the Beacon Prison Rides Project and the Beacon Prison Books Project (run closely with Binnacle Books).

The graveyard that sits near the Fishkill Correctional Facility is located through the woods beyond the Willow Loop, and behind Beacon High School.

Beacon Prison Action submitted photos of “multiple” fresh graves taken Wednesday morning (April 15, 2020). According to the press release: “Four gravestones are without identifying markers, leaving these recent casualties unnamed. A new grave, between two more markers, has yet to be filled.”

A Little Beacon Blog is pursuing information about the protocol for how it is determined for a prisoner to be buried there. If you have information, please see below.

The Prison Population By Numbers And COVID-19 Positive

According to Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS): “The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, guided by the Departmental Mission, is responsible for the confinement and rehabilitation with under 42,000 individuals under custody held at 52 state facilities and supervision of over 35,000 parolees throughout seven regional offices statewide.”

According to the USA Today Network’s Democrat and Chronicle, “New York has approximately 43,000 incarcerated individuals and 29,000 employees at its 52 state-level facilities, according to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.”

According to the DOCCS COVID-19 Confirmed page, the following COVID-19 statuses have been reported:

DOCCS COVID-10 Confirmed Cases
Staff Incarcerated Population Parolees
753 204* 29
*Of these confirmed cases, 49 are now recovered and out of isolation.

DOCCS COVID-19 Confirmed Deaths
Staff Incarcerated Population Parolees
1 5 4

New Release Of Inmates Over Age Of 55, Who Are Eligible For Release In 90 Days, No Violent Felonies, No Sexual Assault

Beacon Prison Action, as well as other groups including the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) on March 20, 2020, have made requests of how inmates could avoid infection.

Since then, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has approved the release of inmates meeting different sets of requirements, which was confirmed by Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to Governor Cuomo during today’s (4/18/2020) briefing when asked about it by a reporter (see minute 31).

DeRosa confirmed that inmates who are over the age of 55, who are eligible for release within 90 days, who have not committed violent felonies or sexual assault offense, and who do not pose a threat to society can be released. DeRosa estimated the number of inmates that fit this specific criteria to be around 200 people, and confirmed it would be a “rolling release” throughout this “current emergency.”

Additional Types Of Inmates Who Have Been Approved For Release

This is not the first set of requirements that have been created so that some inmates can be offered early release due to COVID-19. According to PrisonPolicy.org:

• A judge in the Bronx approved the release of 51 people jailed for alleged parole violations on Rikers Island in New York City. (April 13)

• 65 people have been released early from the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla, New York, following discussions between the District Attorney and the Legal Aid Society of Westchester. (April 13)

• District attorneys in Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have taken steps to reduce jail admissions by releasing people charged with nonviolent offenses and not actively prosecuting low-level, non-violent offenses. (March 17 and March 18)

• In New York state, all in-person parole visits have been suspended and replaced with telephone call, text message, and video call check-ins. (March 20). Details from TimesUnion: “As new cases and deaths from COVID-19 increased, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday ordered non-essential construction projects to stop, and a state agency told parole officers that 1,100 parole violators who are being held in jails and prisons across New York will be released.

• New York City has released 200 people from Rikers Island in the past week, and expects to release another 175 people before the weekend. (March 26)

• In New York, Gov. Cuomo announced that up to 1,100 people who are being held in jails and prisons across the state may be released with community supervision. (March 27)

Early prison release is being addressed at the national level. You can read about Attorney General William Barr’s directive here at The New York Times. A clip: “Attorney General William P. Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday (April 3, 2020) to expand the group of federal inmates eligible for early release and to prioritize those at three facilities where known coronavirus cases have grown precipitously, as the virus threatens to overwhelm prison medical facilities and nearby hospitals.”

Inmates With Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Beacon Prison Action also highlighted inmates who have dementia and Alzheimer’s. From their press release: “Fishkill prison itself has a special Long-Term Care unit for people with serious health conditions, as well as a Unit for the Cognitively Impaired, largely serving elderly prisoners suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. In their last report on this prison, the Correctional Association of New York concluded, “[Our visit to this unit] reinforced the costly, cruel, and nonsensical policy of continued incarceration of people who are so physically and/or cognitively impaired that they pose no safety risk to the community and for whom there no longer remains any justifiable reason to keep them in prison.” (​Fishkill Correctional Facility 2012​ ​by the Correctional Association of New York).

Graves With No Names At Fishkill Correctional Facility

Back to the graves in Beacon, and why some markers have no names. According to Beacon’s most referenced book, “Beacon Revisited” by Robert J. Murphy and Denise Doring VanBuren, the graveyard is known as the Cemetery of Convicts, 1985. From the book: “At the edge of a stand of tall evergreens not far from Beacon’s new high school lies the state-owned cemetery wherein hundreds of unknown men and women are buried. Between the opening of the Matteawan State Hospital (then the Asylum for the Criminally Insane) in 1892, its closing in 1977, and its transformation into Fishkill Correctional Facility, about 1,800 inmates and patients were buried in the remote corner of the prison’s grounds. Today, only numbered stones mark the graves of these unfortunates.”

A Little Beacon Blog has questions and is in pursuit of the bigger picture. If you know the answer and you are an official, please comment below or email us at editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. We are looking for answers to the following questions:

• Do all of the graves state no names?

• When a prisoner dies while incarcerated, what is the protocol? Are they buried there? Or are they sent to their family? Or if they have no next of kin, buried there? The DOCCS Handbook for Families and Friends is here, but doesn’t seem to mention it.

• Why would new burials have no name on the marker? The prison system knows the name of the individual, but why would a name not be placed on a grave?

• Are prisoners from all over New York state sent here to be buried, or just those in Fishkill Correctional Facility?
  
  

Ohio Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Resident For Hoarding And Price Gouging N95 Masks

Ohio's Attorney General, Dave Yost, has filed a lawsuit against Mario F. Salwan, a resident of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and his co-conspirators for "allegedly hoarding N95 respirator masks and selling them online for nearly 18 times the retail price," according to several local news reports, including 21WFMJ and WKYC Studios.

Mario and his team allegedly operated an eBay store called “Donkey476,” which is now defunct, but 21WFMJ has a screenshot of a package of masks for sale. According to the article: “Beginning on March 28, Donkey476 sold packages of 10 N95 masks to 15 purchasers at prices ranging from $360 to $375 – with the prices averaging $363.43, or $36.34 per mask. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average retail price was $2.05 per mask.”

The Attorney General said that the group “ramped up operations” in March by acquiring 1,200 N95 masks. According to the lawsuit, the group also acquired toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

According to the article, an emergency room nurse, whose husband is an emergency room physician, had reached out to Mario to ask him to reconsider the price. His reply, according to the article: “You and your husband should work for free during this crisis, you are greedy!”

Included in the attorney general’s lawsuit filing was this observation: “There’s another word for donkey that immediately comes to mind when thinking about these folks,” Yost said.

Why Can Ohio Sue For Price Gouging?

Ohio has legislation called the Valentine Anti-Trust Act. This act came about in 1898, after a government investigation of Ohio's coal, insurance, railroad, and oil industries, and other business types. The investigation revealed price fixing to increase profits. ”The Valentine Anti-Trust Act prohibited price fixing, production limitation, and controlled sales,” according to Ohio History Connection.

According to the article: “The Valentine Act, Ohio’s antitrust law, gives the Attorney General’s office broad powers to protect the public and foster fair and honest interstate and intrastate competition by instituting actions against those who conspire to restrain trade and commerce or monopolize markets in Ohio. The hoarding of an item and the related increase in prices of that item constitute an unreasonable and unlawful restraint of trade, a violation of the Valentine Act.”

The attorney general “seeks injunctive and other equitable relief – including but not limited to a temporary restraining order – and preliminary and permanent injunctions as well as statutory civil forfeiture,” according to 21WFMJ. The state is also asking Mario to surrender all N95 masks for “reasonable compensation.”

New York Launches First Responders Fund; Blackstone Makes $10M Donation, and $5M Donation To Food Security

During Monday’s daily COVID-19 briefing, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new fund, the First Responders Fund, to assist COVID-19 health care workers and first responders with expenses and costs, including child care. The fund is open to all to contribute to, and is accepting donations.

The first donation announced was a $10 million contribution from Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms who seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they live and work, according to their website. They serve institutional investors around the world, including retirement systems that represent tens of millions of teachers, firefighters and other pensioners.

A second donation has been made to help with food security. According to Blackstone’s news release: “Additionally, the firm is donating $5 million to organizations providing food security and resources for New Yorkers in need. City Harvest, World Central Kitchen, Great Performances and Slice Out Hunger are all working to provide meals for healthcare workers, first responders and other vulnerable populations. Contributions to our nonprofit partners such as Coalition for the Homeless, Union Settlement and Covenant House New York, among others, have helped provide critical support to at-risk communities affected by COVID-19. You can read the full announcement here.”

To donate, Gov. Cuomo directs you to donate directly through Health Research Incorporated, which you can access here, or by check mailed to "Health Research, Inc., 150 Broadway, Suite 560, Menands, NY 12204." Donors should specify the donation is for "COVID-19 NYS Emergency Response."

According to its website: “Health Research, Inc. (HRI) contributes to the health and well-being of the people of New York State by complementing and enabling the strategic goals of the New York State Department of Health and its partners. Donations to Health Research, Inc. are put to immediate use to further public health and research programs.”

Nadia, A Tiger At The Bronx Zoo, Tests Positive For COVID-19

Photo Credit: Wildlife Conservation Society

As reported by Gothamist and released by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in New York today, the 4-year-old Malayan tiger, Nadia, has tested positive for COVID-19. According to the press release: “She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover.” These tigers live in the Tiger Mountain exhibit at the zoo.

While the zoo has been closed since March 16, 2020, the big cat was infected by her human caregiver. According to the WCS statement: “Our cats were infected by a person caring for them who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms. Appropriate preventive measures are now in place for all staff who are caring for them, and the other cats in our four WCS zoos, to prevent further exposure of any other of our zoo cats.”

According to the WCS, the positive COVID-19 test was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa. Other big cats also living in Tiger Mountain have not shown symptoms, which include one male Amur tiger and a Malayan tiger and two Amur tigers.

In terms of symptoms, the infected big cats have a decrease in appetite, but are otherwise bright, alert and interactive with their caregivers. Says the WCS: “It is not known how this disease will develop in big cats since different species can react differently to novel infections, but we will continue to monitor them closely and anticipate full recoveries.”

Several organizations were involved with the testing effort, named in the press release: “We are grateful for the cooperation and support of the New York State Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, where the initial COVID-19 testing of samples from the tiger were performed; the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory where confirmatory testing was conducted; USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and the New York and Illinois State Veterinarians and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their assistance.”

When You Double-Orbit From A Down Day Re: COVID-19, Check Out These Tips To Reclaim Your Mental Health

EDITOR’S NOTE: As you may have discovered, each day - each hour - is emotionally different during this Time Of The Coronavirus. What the governor and other authorities say during the news briefings can pivot our moods drastically. And tweets - one never knows when one will fly and cause total emotional chaos.

The more research and planning we do here at A Little Beacon Blog, the better we feel about the state of things. But still, everyone will have their moment. Something may trigger you to orbit in one direction, and then someone’s response to you, like say your spouse or partner, in an effort to calm you down, may send you into a double orbit in a different direction.

Solution? Tap into your comfort zones. Izdihar Dabashi is one such comfort zone here at A Little Beacon Blog. She is witty, perceptive, sharp, and gentle, as you may have discovered through her articles. She has guidance for you in the mental health department.

Who Is Izdihar Dabashi?

“We’re experiencing whiplash from the rapid change, with an unstable present and an uncertain future, we are understandably overwhelmed. ”

— Izdihar Dabashi

I have been described by none other than myself as an integration of Bob Ross, Mrs. Frizzle from “The Magic School Bus,” and any odd enchantment being on the brink of eccentricism in nostalgic cinema; a slightly unhinged character with an ambient presence, I often find myself engaged in conversations easing other people’s worries. As a creative writer of the current 2020s, I am perceptive to the troubles of our world’s dark sci-fi fantasy era.

What Is Your Mental Health Background?

I am studying psychology with a focus on neuropsychology, with aspirations of continuing a career relevant to the field of psychology. I work with children diagnosed early with emotional/behavioral disorders and families coping with challenges including raising a child with high-stress situations.

“Cognitive dissonance can be compared to that foggy feeling we sometimes find our minds clouded with, as though we are the star of a horror movie, the creep lurking in the shadows could suddenly jump out and we would simply stare at him in dismay with lucid boredom.”

— Izdihar Dabashi

Lately, I have found myself utilizing my knowledge gained from my current studies and work experience in casual conversations. We’re experiencing whiplash from the rapid change, with an unstable present and an uncertain future, we are understandably overwhelmed.

I gathered common signs of distress that could transform into a severe problem as well as a number of tips to ease a state of unease. We are hyperaware of the influx of negativity, but we will persevere. We have been through the Britney and Justin denim-on-denim and frosted tips era, we'll get through this.

What Are You Doing During Remoteness?

During this moment of remoteness, I plan to work on a comedic script, complete a draft of a collection of poetry for a novel, further my psychology research projects, and mess around with digital art designs. I am attempting to maintain the perspective that this is a retreat and not a sign of destruction. People may be beginning to experience cognitive dissonance, in which we are going through daily routines disassociated from our external environment.

Cognitive dissonance can be compared to that foggy feeling we sometimes find our minds clouded with, as though we are the star of a horror movie, the creep lurking in the shadows could suddenly jump out and we would simply stare at him in dismay with lucid boredom.

I notice other people around me experiencing this mental state. I called a friend the other day in an attempt to shake her out of her fog. I created an elaborate story about a neighbor with a secret life as an exotic fish breeder and when she did not react I carried on to a different story about a little purple alien named Jumo that excretes shimmery tears but Sis. Was. Not. Having. It.

Describe A Dark State Of Mind

In all seriousness, falling into a dark state of mind can lead to worsening symptoms and affect our relationship with others, thus creating a detrimental cycle polluted with pessimism and harmful habits. So, whether you’re suddenly on the brink of tears because someone questioned your taste in snacks (excuse me, roasted spicy pepper quinoa crackers are an acquired taste) or whether you have been laying on your couch for the past couple of hours and for some reason still feel completely exhausted, I listed some tips below to help detect these negative signs and provide insight to alleviate tension.

I cultivated my advice based on my studies of psychology, which involved courses in therapy and counseling theories, and my experience working with children with special needs and their families during high-stress situations. The list is not to be regarded in any particular order, and please remember these are potential signs. If you feel your mental health is at a higher risk, please contact a medical professional. I am not a psychologist yet, people. If you don’t know where to start, you could call the New York State Mental and Emotional Counseling Hotline: 844-863-9314. The hold music is pretty good, and the people are friendly.

Signs You Are Falling Into a Negative State of Mind

Fogginess

Fogginess is marked by feeling as though you’re amid a haze in which time is blurred and days morph into nights without awareness. You want to be creative and productive but your mind lacks clarity.

Unmotivated

Despite a healthy energy level, you may not want to physically get up or you’re experiencing a mental state susceptible to procrastination. Nothing seems to warrant enough importance for you to practice productivity.

Disengaged

Perhaps you are feeling disconnected from people around you and you are distancing yourself from social interaction, even if that interaction is virtual. You are not actively communicating with those around you and neglecting phone calls and texts.

Excessive Daydreaming

Your attention is fleeting and you find yourself slipping into daydreams as your body continues to function on autopilot. This may appear as driving and passing your set destination, frequently zoning out when sitting down to perform a task, even losing focus when watching TV shows. Our brains have associated areas dedicated to this feature known as the Default Mode Network; studies suggest higher activation of the Default Mode Network is common among those with depression. Daydreaming is normal but concern is valid when you're easily and increasingly becoming untethered from the physical world.

Irritable

If you find yourself quarreling with your partner too often, or likely to snap at your siblings for the slightest irritation, you may be experiencing agitation related to high stress levels.

Fatigue

Relevant to lack of motivation, fatigue is a sense of chronic tiredness and maybe even feeling heavier.

Sleep

A disruption in our circadian rhythm, through a sudden change in typical sleep hours or an unhealthy amount of sleep, disturbs our well-being. Sleep deprivation may promote a weak immune system, increase agitation and mood swings, and heighten difficulties in concentrating and memory.

These are also symptoms of a Netflix binge, seriously though, we get it, you LOVE “The Office.” Please move on.

Tips to Relieve Negativity and Promote Positivity

Now, here are some tips to alleviate tension without having to leave your house or convince yourself to order an ounce of organic matcha grown in a remote village in Japan with a precise amount of shade and classical music that supposedly influences the effects of relaxation when consumed. Yeah, I don’t know either… but I must admit it’s already in my Amazon account.

Feel

Allow yourself to feel. Bring the anxieties simmering in the back of your brain to the forefront and truly allow yourself to experience the sensation. What’s bothering you? Whether our conflicts manifest as an internal conflict within ourselves or an external conflict with someone else, we are quick to distract ourselves with television, social media, or reading. Verbalize your thoughts, expel them from your mind through writing or another creative mode. Express your emotions.

Meditate

Meditation can be practiced in the form of yoga, prayer, or even simple breathing exercises. Taking a relaxing bath or a calming shower can also be meditative.

Exercise

YouTube offers plenty of brief 25-minute home workouts for all levels. Whether you want a hardcore abdominal workout or an invigorating yoga session, the internet offers endless free options. Going for a brief walk around the neighborhood can also feel refreshing. Beacon fitness businesses have also quickly gone online to reach you, and you can find that list here in ALBB’s Business Directory.

Mindfulness

Implement purpose to your actions. This can be done through creativity by writing, art, even cooking/baking can be mindful. That potted plant you’ve been meaning to tend to? Tend to it! Not to get all “Avatar: The Last Airbender” with you, but connect yourself to the earth’s elements if you can. Energy is present everywhere; we’re constantly taking in the earth’s energy and distributing positive energy. Establish a period of time to commit to a task with little interruption and distraction.

Satisfaction Over Instant Gratification

Our current situation may be a retreat from the fast pace of society, but we are left to surrender to our minds. The sudden awareness of consciousness may begin to infiltrate our minds, and suddenly there’s chaos like the little beings from Disney’s “Inside Out” coming to life and going haywire. It is easy to give in to the desire to procrastinate, attempting to convince yourself you’ll get it done later or start over again tomorrow. We’re only human, we all experience this urge to give in to our distractions. With that in mind, time mandatory activities and if you really, really want to watch that next episode on Netflix, find a way to fit it into a task you need to get done. Do your chores while watching an episode such as laundry, dishes, organizing your closet, etc. That way you're being productive while allowing yourself to indulge a bit.

A friend of mine sent me this video on a particularly bad day and it's the tough love we all need from time to time.

Schedule a Break

Schedule your rest time so you have an incentive to look forward to. If you plan on working on something from the afternoon until evening, schedule a time slot after to be able to do whatever relaxing activity you wanted to get done such as watching cartoons, painting - retail therapy if you’re feeling a little dangerous.

Sleep

Sleep is the solution to the problem of sleep. Philosophical? Obviously. In all seriousness, attempt to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Try to sleep early and wake up early, experience sunrise in peace if you haven’t done so before.

I asked a handful of friends what they do to alleviate tension and I’ve gotten plenty of responses including working out, sleeping, having a good cry, CBD (now available in tea form!), long drives, herbal teas. Other long-term solutions include eating fresh (if possible try making a smoothie everyday), research studies also suggest turmeric to be effective in reducing stress levels. The most complex feelings can be eased by the simplest of solutions.

HEALTH: Making Your Coronavirus Medical Call List

When things get thick, it is helpful to slow down and make a list of important things you would need to take care of just in case something serious happens. If you are a pre-planning sort of person, you probably already have this list.

If you aren’t, then perhaps you are making this now. When making this list, we have a list of FAQs to ask yourself for different scenarios. If you are feeling symptoms of coronavirus, you are to call your doctor first, as recommended by the CDC, Dutchess County and New York State. health officials

You can only get tested with a doctor’s prescription. As of now, 3/31/2020, the tests do have a turnaround time of more than one day. So you need not panic, you just need to call your doctor, monitor your symptoms, and help yourself stay comfortable as you fight it out. Lots of people self-resolve (get better on their own, without involving formal medical treatment).

What if I don't have a doctor?

If you don’t have a doctor, you can find a federally qualified health center here: www.findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

Run a search for 12508 Beacon, and you’ll get these results.

They include: Hudson River Healthcare Beacon, Cornerstone Family Healthcare, and Mobile Health Vans 1, 2 and 3.

What if I am calling after my doctor's office’s regular hours?

Unless you are in an emergency, call in the morning. If you want to talk to someone to point you in a direction, you could call the New York State Coronavirus Hotline: 888-364-3065. If you are in an emergency, call 911.

As of 3/31/2020, a representative at the New York State Coronavirus Hotline says that testing is not instantaneous. “Because of how high the demand is,” the representative said, “it is limited to highest-risk groups. Like medical staff, or people who have been in direct contact.” If you’re curious, you can see the list of current testing sites here at Dutchess County’s website.

If you are feeling extra anxious, you can call Mental and Emotional support hotlines that New York State set up:

• New York State COVID-19 Emotional Counseling Hotline: 844-863-9314
  Open 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week (this has really nice hold music!)
  Call and talk about your feelings. They will listen, and give you resources if necessary.

• Tele-mental-health, 24/7 (stress, anxiety, depression, drugs and alcohol): 888-692-9355

What do I need on my doctor list?

For anyone calling the doctor for yourself or your family, you will need this basic information, maybe a little more. But have at least this information for each member of your family in a convenient place, maybe on a piece of paper on your refrigerator:

• Full legal name (your name or that of your partner or children)

• Date of birth

• Social Security number

• Doctor’s name

• Doctor’s phone number

  
  Keep in mind, lots of people self-resolve. Be sure to look at the people who have recovered, who left the hospital, who maybe never went to the hospital, etc. Being prepared in your own house is a great first step to feeling at ease.
  

HEALTH: The Ventilators. Why The Need For Ventilators, And Why Cuomo Was So Mad

Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

From today’s daily Pandemic Briefing from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: He wants the federal government to release ventilators from the federal stockpile, and send New York the ventilators now to get set up in hospitals now as they prepare for the wave of COVID-19 cases. Federal government said they would send 400 ventilators, but New York needs 30,000. New York has 7,000 (an acquisition was made to get to that number). Said Gov. Cuomo: “Federal government has 20,000 ventilators, or thereabouts, in the federal stockpile. Secretary Alex Azar runs an agency called HHS - Health and Human Services. I asked the secretary: ‘Look at the first word in the title of the agency you run. It is ‘health.’ Your first priority is health. You have 20,000 ventilators in the stockpile. Release the ventilators to New York.”

Cuomo has been asking. He has been telling daily how many ventilators he needs. Every single day. Every. Single. Day. Math is math. Math did not change today. Cuomo went hard today because he was not getting what he needed in a common-sense, "Let's save people and not let a lot of people die at once" way.

UPDATE: Hours later, the federal government announced yesterday (Tuesday, 3/24/2020) that they would send 4,000 ventilators to New York, since New York is about to spike in usage.

Other states will and do need the ventilators. More ventilators need to be made, and existing ventilators need to get shipped now in order to be set up now as hospitals prepare for the wave to hit. Ohio, California, other states, all very important; of course ventilators need to move around to different states. But for now, New York has done by far the most testing, and has the most official cases.

According to Cuomo's press conference on March 24, 2020, New York state has 25,665 positive cases. New Jersey has 2,844 cases, California has 2,240 cases, and Washington state has 2,101 cases. For deaths: New York has the highest, at 210, and Washington state has the next highest: 109. For New York, 3,234 people are currently hospitalized, and 756 of those are ICU patients (who need the ventilators). ICU right now is 23% of the hospitalizations. The projected curve for New York's wave to hit is in 14-21 days, which was announced Monday in the press conference.

So to prepare, as different states are doing, ventilators should move to the need as different waves hit, and be strategically deployed, Cuomo said. New York is strategizing how to use one ventilator for multiple people, which is experimental, Cuomo said. More ventilators should be produced, starting yesterday, or two or three weeks ago, or January or December. Hopefully some help is on the way now.

SallyeAnder's "Heavy Duty Hand Therapy Moisturizing Balm" Really Works For Dry, Painful Hands

With all the hand-washing going on, your hands are a wreck. Fortunately for you, Beacon is filled with people who make the most amazing creams and balms. SallyeAnder Soaps is a brand you see in a lot of shops in Beacon, and you’ve seen it online or in other shops in other states as well. It’s a major brand that is manufactured right here in Beacon, in the same building as Brett’s Hardware, Beacon Pilates, CineHub, BCAP, and a few others whose names aren’t coming to the forefront at moment.

This blogger’s hands were dry from the hand-washing, which triggered eczema flare-ups across the whole back of the hand. If you’ve never had eczema, it’s quite annoying because it can feel differently at different times. Sometimes it makes for scaly skin on a certain area of the finger, for example. This first happened to this blogger while being a dishwasher in a French cafe.

These days, the eczema can cause cracks that split like paper cuts. When a sensation of stress happens, the stress feels can spread across the entire hand in a burning sensation.

Enter in: SallyeAnder’s “Heavy Duty Hand Therapy Moisturizing Balm.” Put a little dab on the dry area, and begin feeling the sensation. SallyeAnder was started by a dad, Gary Austin, who was trying with his wife Karen to heal his son’s eczema as a baby; the company is now run by his daughter. That was back in 1982. Now their daughter, Sallye, runs the soap manufacturing business here in Beacon.

Want some soaps to switch off from what you normally use every now and then? Try the best selling soaps: Milk & Mint and Lavender Moon. Says their project manager (and megastar food photographer) Eva Deitch about the balm: “All of our soaps are safe and effective to use for severely dry or eczema-prone skin and won't contribute to drying your hands with constant washing. This is because we use an olive oil base for our soaps.”

Find this cream at Beacon Pantry, Brett’s Hardware or Mountain Tops. Order any time online from SallyeAnder’s website. As of today (3/21/2020, hardware stores (Brett’s), and food establishments for carry-out (Beacon Pantry) are deemed as “essential businesses” and are able to remain open. Always check the Essential Business List at the New York State COVID-19 website.

Delinquent Medical and Student Debt WaIved For 30 Days By New York Attorney General

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

When medical and student debt goes beyond hitting a collection agency who sends you those letters trying to collect, it goes to New York Attorney General Letitia James. During the time of coronavirus/COVID-19, she doesn’t want to collect, and has temporarily suspended medical and student debt referred to her office for 30 days, through April 15, 2020, as reported by ABC News.

She said via a statement: “In this time of crisis, my office will not add undue stress or saddle New Yorkers with unnecessary financial burden. New Yorkers need to focus on keeping themselves safe and healthy from the coronavirus, and therefore can rest assured that state medical and student debt referred to my office will not be collected against them for at least 30 days."

Gov. Cuomo Aggressively Pushes Trump For Army Corps of Engineers To Build Hospitals For NY

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

In yesterday’s press conference, Governor Cuomo urged President Trump to send in the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing buildings like SUNY to serve as temporary hospitals. He anticipates the need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, which include ventilators, to be in high demand very quickly, all at once.

Governor Cuomo set the stage for why with a picture of a tsunami wave crashing over a hospital, referring to the “curve” as more of a “wave.”

“If you have too high a number of people sick at the same time, when they descend on the hospital system, you will overwhelm the hospital system. That’s the issue here. Overwhelming the capacity of the hospital system,” Governor Cuomo said.

“I’m a governor,” he continued. “I am focused on what I need today, to prepare for tomorrow. That’s what everyone should be focused on.”

“We are looking at a new war that no one has seen before.”

— Governor Cuomo

“We are looking at a new war that no one has seen before. This is a case of first impression. We have never fought a virus like this, with this potential consequence,” he stated.

And then he shared ideas: “So, plan forward. You see that wave? Try to reduce the size of the wave. Assume you can’t reduce the size of the wave. Assume the wave breaks on a higher level than the hospital system can accommodate. That’s what I believe is going to happen.”

The Governor explained that current ICU beds are 80% occupied (there are 3,000 ICU beds total in New York state). Only several hundred ICU beds are available. “They [the ICU beds] need the ventilators. They need the machines that breathe for them. Those are the ventilators, and those are with the ICU beds. The overwhelming crush will be on the ICU beds.”

He contrasted the ICU beds with the “normal” hospital beds, of which there are 53,000. Those are “basically going to be filled with people recovering with what feels like the flu,” where hospital staff are checking your vitals, hydrating you, feeding you, he described.

Governor Cuomo wants to build more hospitals and find more staff. He wants more staff because “hospital workers will get sick,” he said. He wants to recruit medical staff who are on reserve, from retirement, etc.. Another option is to reduce or pause elective surgeries. Ohio canceled elective surgeries several days ago. And you know that thing about Ohio (ALBB founder Katie is a native Ohioan) - the weather that happens in Ohio happens in New York one or two days later.

Governor Cuomo wrote an open letter to President Trump, published in The New York Times, to ask for the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing buildings into hospitals. The governor said that anyoptions in the private sector are not there.

In response, President Trump denied this request, telling Governor Cuomo to do more. “This can’t be a national policy of every state does its own thing,” Governor Cuomo said yesterday, before the president declined his request for builders. “You can’t have a patchwork quilt of policy. New York state closes stores. OK, New Jersey doesn’t. What did I do? I sent thousands of vehicles over to New Jersey.”

Today, Governor Cuomo mandated that all gyms, casinos, movie theaters, bars and restaurants close (takeout and delivery only for bars/restaurants), and reduced the crowd mandate to 50.

Not only that, but states neighboring: CT and NJ also did the same. These states agreed to also close so as to avoid overflow when people leave one state to do something in another state. Same thing could happen at a micro level - and even shorter distance level - at the county or city level. People from New York City escaping to Beacon, which is what happened on St. Paddy’s Day weekend, and could continue if people wanted to flee their sheltering restrictions in NYC. In fact, there is an entire blog dedicated to just this concept (we love Escape Brooklyn, but you get the point - for now, stay home)!

As For More ICU Hospital Beds

“We know what is going to happen. We have the data and the projection. Look at China. Look at South Korea. Look at Italy. And just plot the numbers. You know the curve. ”

— Governor Cuomo

“We know what is going to happen. We have the data and the projection. Look at China. Look at South Korea. Look at Italy. And just plot the numbers. You know the curve. You know how effective you are at flattening the curve. And we are now looking at a wave… Do everything you can to reduce the wave. We are. It’s still a wave. It’s going to be a wave. And it is going to be a wave that at any of these projections, will overwhelm the healthcare system.”

Governor Cuomo asked the president for three things:

1. FDA to get out of the way for automated testing.

2. Federal government to give guidance to states.

3. More hospital facilities. Cuomo wants the Army Corps of Engineers to construct or retrofit buildings and acquire thousands of pieces of equipment to build quickly.

“I don’t have the physical capacity,” he urged. “There’s only one workforce that can do that: The Army Corps of Engineers and the military assets. They build bridges. They build camps. They have equipment, excavators, purchasing power. Use them to come in right now. Identify existing facilities that can be retrofitted.”

“China built dozens of hospitals in literally a month. How? The Chinese government came in and said ‘We’re going to do this.’ You can’t leave this to the states… I’m an aggressive governor. I push very hard. But there’s no way that we could manage this undertaking.”

President Trump’s response today: “Cuomo of New York has to do more.” (See the deleted Tweet here)

And then Governor Cuomo’s response, saying he was happy to do the president’s job.

Parents: Avoid Each Other At Lesson Pickup. Resist Bringing Kids (I Know - Hard!) Or Keep Them And You In The Car

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Hi everyone,

Today is the first day of lesson pickup for the kids to learn at home (or, let’s face it - pretend that we have some semblance of something normal for now).

This is amazing that the teachers have created these alternative learning tools for us.

The most natural feeling for all of us as we go to pickup is to want to see each other and catch up. Our kids are pining for each other. Totally normal. We may forget to social distance, and hug or stand next to each other, thinking that we are immune.

Please, don’t do this. Delete this temptation by figuring out a plan to not bring your kids to pickup, and to not get close to each other at pickup. All of us could be carriers and show no symptoms. If you must bring your kids to pickup - if you are solo - keep them in the car. It’s too hard to control them when they get excited and want to see each other.

If you are feeling symptoms - even the slightest ones - consider asking a neighbor to pick up your lessons for you. If you have coronavirus/COVID-19, chances are your entire house does too. Even though they may not feel symptoms ever, or they may feel mild symptoms.

If you had a mystery cold last week, or the week before, consider really isolating. It’s also allergy season, so add that to the list of “Am I feeling a symptom?” circumstances. It’s OK. Just keep taking your temp. Call your doctor with questions. It’s all good.

I woke up with ever-slight asthma this morning. Totally normal for me during the spring. I always get a bad cold in April. Just check my doctor records! But it’s upped our game plan of “just in case.”

Our plan is to ask a neighbor to pick up our materials, or send one of us in the car and make a grab dash. Our teacher also emailed a PDF of things. If you are a single parent, and you are practicing “just in case,” just skip it altogether and ask a neighbor to bring it home for you if you want to. Stay healthy. Stay rested. Stay positive. Do what is best for you to take care of your family.

This isn’t forever. Our kids will learn. They will not be stunted. This will be OK.

Let’s just flatten the curve.

xoxo