When this crisis began, we engaged experts to model the path of this virus. But there was one thing the statisticians didn't count on: they didn't know how unified New Yorkers can be. They couldn't use their computers to measure New Yorkers' spirit and love for each other. It was hard to quantify the levels New Yorkers would rise to to stay home, social distance and look out for one another. We are not out of the woods yet — but the social distancing measures all of us are taking are working and we must continue to look out for each other.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. An additional $200 million in emergency food assistance will be available for more than 700,000 low-income households enrolled in SNAP. Those enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) who are not yet receiving the maximum benefit will receive an additional payment to bring them up to this amount in March and April. The supplemental benefits will be issued in April and delivered directly to recipients' existing EBT accounts.
2. Saying thank you is nice but providing help is even better. I am working with New York's Congressional delegation to create a COVID-19 Heroes Compensation Fund to support frontline workers and their families who contracted COVID-19. It is modeled after the 9/11 Fund passed by Congress after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
3. The State is ramping up antibody testing, which is a key component of any plan to reopen the economy. The state is currently on track to conduct 1,000 antibody tests per day by next Friday and 2,000 per day by the following week. I am calling on the federal government to help us bring this testing to scale. In the interim, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey will create a testing partnership to bring mass testing to scale in the Tri-State region.
4. Private sector companies will provide free housing for frontline medical workers. Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky will contribute $2 million to help provide rooms in union hotels at no cost to frontline workers. As part of this effort, the union 1199SEIU is partnering with Airbnb to offer housing to its members, including healthcare workers, as they fight COVID-19. Additionally, the InterContinental Times Square, Yotel and the Hudson Hotel are providing an additional 800 free rooms for healthcare workers coming to New York City from out of state, in collaboration with the Hotel Association of New York City, MetLife and the Related Companies.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Today, the State released a video, made in partnership with Resonant Pictures, that features New Yorkers showing us their reality as they stay home under the statewide PAUSE restrictions, set to the song "How to Save a Life" by The Fray. Watch the video here.
Ever Upward,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
