Now is not the time to relax and be complacent. I am proud that New Yorkers have so far acted responsibly, and diligently, and we are saving lives by the actions we are taking today. I've said we're "New York Tough," because every day is tough on many, many levels. Our individual and collective actions appear to be succeeding in flattening the curve. As I have said repeatedly, this virus is very good at what it does. It is efficient. We are too. So Stay Home — Stop the Spread — Save Lives.
1. The State is opening five new testing facilities downstate, primarily in minority communities. A drive-through mobile testing facility will open at the Sears Parking Lot at 2307 Beverly Road in Brooklyn tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., and a drive-through mobile testing facility opened at the Club House at Aqueduct Race Track Parking Lot, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., in Queens, on Monday, April 6th. In addition, the state is opening three walk-in facilities at health care centers in the South Bronx; Jamaica, Queens; and in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The walk-in facilities will open next week and will be by appointment only. Residents who would like to be tested at these facilities must make an appointment by calling 888-364-3065.
2. New York is tough but "New York Loves." A new initiative called "New York Loves" will coordinate foundations, philanthropies, charities and other nonprofits that want to help or donate to the state during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. New York Secretary of State Rosanna Rosado and State Director of Nonprofits Fran Barrett will coordinate this effort and work with local governments that need additional help.
3. To help develop a treatment, I am asking all New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 to contact the state and donate blood. Individuals who tested positive and then recovered from the virus may have convalescent plasma in their blood, which has antibodies against the virus and could help with the development of a treatment for the virus. More information about how to donate is available here.
4. We continue to mourn the New Yorkers we have lost to this vicious virus. I will issue an Executive Order to bring additional funeral directors to New York to help with the high number of deaths due to COVID-19. There are no words that can express our grief and heartbreak at the lives we have lost. It is a loss to the very fabric of New York.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": New York State has distributed over one million free bottles of "NYS Clean" hand sanitizer across all 62 counties in the state. The hand sanitizer has been distributed to county emergency managers, first responders, healthcare workers, nursing homes, law enforcement, homeless organizations, other non-profits and transportation systems.
Ever Upward,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
