3/29/20 General Updates Regarding COVID-19
AMID ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES NYS ON PAUSE FUNCTIONS EXTENDED FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
The Governor also directed the state nonessential workforce to continue to work from home for an additional two weeks through April 15th. The state will re-evaluate after this additional two-week period.
New York’s Wadsworth Lab has Developed New, Less Intrusive Test for COVID-19
The new test is done through a saliva sample and a self-administered short nasal swab in the presence of a health care professional. Additionally, health care professionals can self-administer the test without another health care professional present.
This new test will help conserve personal protective equipment, or PPE, for healthcare workers, reduce potential exposure of the virus to health care workers and will allow the state to continue to test as many individuals as possible in New York amid the national shortage of the more intrusive nasopharyngeal, or NP, swabs. Self-collection of nasal swabs has been done before for other respiratory viruses such as flu and it has been shown to be effective and safe, and collection of a saliva sample is simple and non-invasive. This new testing will begin within a week.
Executive Order Also Allows Schools to Host Day Care Free of Charge
Following Governor’s Call, Pharmacies Have Agreed to Offer Free Home Delivery
After speaking with the state’s major pharmacy chains, the Governor announced that pharmacies have agreed to offer free home delivery to help reduce long lines for prescriptions at their facilities.
Announces State, in Partnership with Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senator Bailey, Assemblyman Benedetto and Borough President Diaz Jr., is Launching a New Mobile Testing Site in the Bronx
the State is launching a new mobile testing site in Co-Op City, the largest public housing development (Mitchell Lama) in the country.
This new mobile testing site located at the Bay Plaza Mall Parking Lot, AMC Cinema entrance in the Bronx will provide tests by appointment only and will prioritize symptomatic individuals who had close exposure to a positive COVID-19 case, health care workers and first responders displaying symptoms, and those working in or having recently visited a nursing home who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
To get an appointment, New Yorkers can call the Coronavirus hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
Confirms 7,195 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 59,513; New Cases in 44 Counties
The Governor confirmed 7,195 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 59,513 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 59,513 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 205 | 10 |
| Allegany | 6 | 4 |
| Broome | 29 | 6 |
| Cattaraugus | 4 | 3 |
| Cayuga | 2 | 0 |
| Chautauqua | 5 | 0 |
| Chemung | 15 | 3 |
| Chenango | 15 | 7 |
| Clinton | 13 | 1 |
| Columbia | 23 | 1 |
| Cortland | 6 | 1 |
| Delaware | 8 | 0 |
| Dutchess | 320 | 58 |
| Erie | 358 | 40 |
| Essex | 4 | 0 |
| Franklin | 6 | 2 |
| Fulton | 1 | 0 |
| Genesee | 9 | 2 |
| Greene | 7 | 0 |
| Hamilton | 2 | 0 |
| Herkimer | 10 | 1 |
| Jefferson | 7 | 1 |
| Lewis | 2 | 2 |
| Livingston | 10 | 5 |
| Madison | 24 | 5 |
| Monroe | 219 | 27 |
| Montgomery | 6 | 1 |
| Nassau | 6445 | 908 |
| Niagara | 38 | 5 |
| NYC | 33768 | 4002 |
| Oneida | 26 | 3 |
| Onondaga | 152 | 23 |
| Ontario | 18 | 2 |
| Orange | 1247 | 146 |
| Orleans | 3 | 0 |
| Oswego | 8 | 1 |
| Otsego | 10 | 3 |
| Putnam | 144 | 13 |
| Rensselaer | 39 | 1 |
| Rockland | 2209 | 313 |
| Saratoga | 102 | 6 |
| Schenectady | 76 | 4 |
| Schoharie | 5 | 0 |
| Schuyler | 1 | 0 |
| St. Lawrence | 12 | 4 |
| Steuben | 17 | 4 |
| Suffolk | 5023 | 885 |
| Sullivan | 88 | 16 |
| Tioga | 4 | 0 |
| Tompkins | 52 | 7 |
| Ulster | 146 | 18 |
| Warren | 18 | 5 |
| Washington | 7 | 1 |
| Wayne | 12 | 0 |
| Westchester | 8519 | 644 |
| Wyoming | 8 | 1 |