NY State of Emergency

On Saturday night, March 7th, Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency in New York in response to coronavirus. For many, this was startling and seemed to raise more questions than answers. If you’re asking yourself — What should I do? Should I be scared? How should I prepare? — know that you are not alone!

As the story evolves day-by-day, we’ll be here to equip you with the facts so you can stay healthy, calm, and get care if you need it.

Read on for today’s update:

So, what is a “State of Emergency” exactly?

A State of Emergency can be declared by a Governor when they believe a disaster may be imminent and severe enough to require State aid to supplement local resources in an effort to prevent and alleviate damages, loss, hardship, and suffering.

Why did Governor Cuomo declare a State of Emergency for NY State?

Governor Cuomo announced a State of Emergency Saturday, March 7th. Cuomo’s declaration allows NY State more flexibility with funding and expedites the purchasing of supplies and the hiring of workers to assist local health departments.

How many documented cases are there in NY right now?

You can find updated reporting on the number of coronavirus cases in NY here.

Is the number of infected cases in NYC likely to go up?

In the coming days, testing for coronavirus will increase as tests become more widely available in NY State. More testing will inevitably lead to an increase in confirmed cases. This does not directly correlate to an uptick in transmission, but rather a better understanding of how widespread the virus is. With broader testing, patients can be identified, and transmission better contained. Testing is important because it helps with containment efforts, early detection, and early intervention.

Do I need to quarantine myself?

No, not necessarily. Quarantining works on a spectrum. Here’s what we recommend, in line with the CDC.

• If you are healthy and have no symptoms (just seeking to stay that way!), we recommend you practice “social distancing” — the practice of limiting your exposure to the general public. This means avoiding crowded places, groups, events, and working from home if that option is available to you. While the phrase may sound new, the concept is ancient. Because viruses *like* *like* people, in fact, they can’t live long without them, meaning they love a social gathering where they can hop from person-to-person.
• Social distancing is especially recommended in population-dense areas like, ehem… New York City. Social distancing is also highly recommended for vulnerable populations like the elderly and people with weak or compromised immune systems (you know who you are).
• If you are fatigued, have a cold or runny nose, or mild flu-like symptoms, we recommend that you hydrate, heal, and put in an *extra prudent effort* to practice strict social distancing (read: stay home!).
• If you have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of coronavirus or you have a confirmed case yourself, it is your responsibility to take things a step further and self-quarantine. This is crucial because the virus can be carried asymptomatically. In other words, you may not have symptoms of the virus but you can still act as a carrier and transmit it to others. In many ways, this makes you the viruses favorite host because you continue to run around and go about your day-to-day continuing to interact with many and further spreading the virus.

When should I seek medical care?

If you fit any of the following descriptions, you are considered a Person Under Investigation (under the CDC guidelines). This means you should go directly to an Emergency Department NOT the Tia Clinic:

• Fever or signs/symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath) AND any person, including healthcare workers, who has had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus patient within 14 days of symptom onset
• Fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough or shortness of breath) requiring hospitalization AND a history of travel from affected geographic areas (Italy, Iran, S. Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong/Taiwan) within 14 days of symptom onset
• Fever with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without an alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza) AND no source of exposure has been identified.

Can I be tested at the Tia Clinic?

No, the CDC has designated specific testing locations that can properly limit exposure to patients and providers. If you are concerned that you have symptoms of coronavirus please message your Tia Care Coordinator who will ask you the appropriate questions to design the right course of action for you, and route you to the best place to get care or testing for your needs.

How freaked out should I be about all of this?

While freakouts are never good, at Tia, we like to be prepared and are taking a strident, evidence-based clinical-approach. This means diligence in precautionary and immune-supportive measures and also information sourcing. We recommend looking to the CDC, John Hopkins, and the Mount Sinai websites for updated and trusted communication about coronavirus.

Okay, so what can I do to be extra healthy?

• Practice some form of social distancing
• Sleep!
• Avoid excess alcohol, coffee, and sugar (think more veggies and water)
• Skip smoking and vaping

Tia Factoid: viruses are encapsulated by a lipid barrier. The lipid barrier protects the virus as it is trying to find a home (human) and infect someone. Soap both washes your hands (gets rids of bacteria and viruses) but also breaks apart this lipid barrier making the virus more vulnerable.

Stay tuned for more science-backed updates on Coronavirus.