Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily live press briefings have become essential viewing, not only for many New Yorkers, but for people across the country. The news has seldom been good, but his calm and frank assessment of the progress of the COVID-19 virus, his apparent control and anticipation of need, has won him a national following.
His appearances with his brother, newsman Chris Cuomo, on CNN have been a combination of information and sibling bickering that have won fans for both of them. But in their last interview before it was announced that the younger brother has been confirmed with the virus, the governor was adamant when asked if he had any interest in being president, might run for president, or would think about running for president in the future.
“No. No. And no.”
Governor Cuomo has, each day, announced rising numbers of a virus that said, “we have been behind from day one.”
The governor said he is guided by projections that indicate the apex of the virus is expected to hit New York City in 7 to 21 days, and then spread throughout the state. On Tuesday, he referred to the president’s hope that the economy would be back to full strength by Easter.
“This is not going to be one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks, six weeks,” Cuomo said. “This is not going to be an Easter surprise. This is the time to tell the federal government, FEMA, Health and Human Services, learn how to do your jobs and do it quickly.”
He has demanded cooperation from Washington, he has expressed thanks for help received. Although he’s said, over and over, that New Yorkers need to stay home to help reduce the rate of the spread, he has also pushed back quickly against other states, like Rhode Island, that targeted cars with New York license plates.
“This is not a lockdown,” he said. “I know we feel under attack. Some reactions, even from governments, are frightening. But no one is going to attack New York unfairly, no one is going to deprive New York of what it needs.”
The state is coordinating an effort to make sure every hospital and healthcare system in the state, public and private, work together as one coordinated system. The governor has led efforts to create emergency temporary hospitals downstate, and identified facilities that may be called into service upstate. He’s also asked upstate hospitals to send some of their staff downstate, and he’s asked other states to send staff as well.
“We’ll pay you,” he said. “And then we’ll help you.”
The governor is now telling hospitals to inform the state of what inventory they have on hand, to add to a statewide stockpile against the worst of the pandemic.
Each day has brought a call for more ventilators, essential respiratory equipment for the patients most seriously impacted by the virus. Cuomo said not only is he competing to buy that equipment against other states, but the federal government is also bidding and driving up the cost. He has used his daily press briefings to reiterate the reason for the need to stockpile equipment, in what seems to be an answer to ongoing doubts from the White House about the need for that stockpile.
“Now is the time for national unity,” Cuomo said Tuesday. “There are no red states. There are no blue states. Not now. The virus attacks all Americans.”
