Information and Resources on the Coronavirus

As this pandemic continues, I want to ensure you have the best available information to protect and care for yourself and your loved ones as we continue to learn more about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Keeping folks safe across our region is my top priority.  I continue to closely monitor this quickly evolving situation and coordinate with local public health and elected officials. For updates and tips on how to prepare for yourself and your family, call the New York State Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

If you are concerned about this disease or want to learn more about prevention efforts, I urge you to visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Find more information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the CDC here.

Find more information here on what you should do if you believe you are infected with coronavirus.

Symptoms

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you have visited China within the past two weeks and start to feel ill, call your doctor.

Prevention

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

• Stay home except to get medical care
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor
• Wear a facemask
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Avoid sharing personal household items
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Adhere to travel warnings published by the CDC and State Department

CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Click here for the most recent travel information from the CDC. CDC also advises that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions consider postponing nonessential travel to Iran, Italy, and Japan. Travelers should practice usual precautions when traveling to Hong Kong. If you plan to travel internationally, I encourage folks to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive important messages, alerts, updates, and travel advisories while you are there.

Response Efforts

Last week, Congress took critical action to confront the coronavirus epidemic. On March 4, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan $8.3 billion coronavirus emergency response package that the Senate passed and President signed into law.

H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, delivers the smart, strong and science-based response to this crisis that Americans need and expect. Among other provisions, H.R. 6074:

• Commits more than $3 billion to the development of treatments and a coronavirus vaccine and includes an additional $300 million to ensure Americans will have access to the vaccine regardless of their ability to pay; 
• Provides $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness and response, including nearly a billion dollars specifically to alleviate the immense financial strain on state, local, tribal and territorial hospitals and health systems;
• Supports nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers and to improve medical surge capacity;
• Pledges $435 million to support health systems overseas to prevent, prepare, and respond to the coronavirus;
• Allows Medicare providers to extend telemedicine services to seniors regardless of where they live, at an estimated cost of $500 million; and
• Delivers $1 billion in loan subsidies to be made available to small businesses impacted by the virus, enabling the Small Business Administration to provide $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected businesses.
   

In addition, a broad, bipartisan coalition in the House in voting to pass H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides direct support for families and small businesses, who are already facing challenges during this pandemic. This legislation will provide essential services to assist working families and seniors across upstate New York during the COVID-19 pandemic including:

• Free testing: ensures free coronavirus testing, even for those who are uninsured;
• Expanded Unemployment Insurance: gives workers the ability to stay at home if they’re sick;
• Nutrition Assistance: $1 billion to provide children and seniors with continued food security during these challenging times;
• Emergency Sick Leave: provides for 14 days of paid sick leave for employees, and reimburses small businesses for this cost;
• Protects Medicaid Benefits: increases the federal Medicaid contributions to states to ensure benefits are not cut during this critical time.

Further Information

Experts have been working hard to understand this new strain of coronavirus. Because new information is coming out every day, please visit the sites below to stay up to date.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides updates on the virus and safety information for the public and healthcare professionals.
• The New York Department of Health provides updates on the disease's spread within the state. Call the New York State Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
• The State Department provides a list of travel advisories for those who are planning to fly outside of the United States. The most up to date list can be found here.
• Information specific to federal agencies can be found here. 
• The safety of our community is my priority. Do not hesitate to reach out to my office at (845) 443-2930.