Quick Update: Friday, March 6, 2020

Testing for COVID 19 infection is still limited in the US. We need access to testing. Otherwise, we have no idea of the extent of the epidemic.

A quick review of COVID-19 developments

1. Case count global—first time is greater than 100,000 reported cases=101,781.

Case count Rochester—one person under investigation pending test results (Rochester General).

A real-time global summary is available here.

2. In a letter from Dr. Howard Zucker, NYS Commisioner of Health, the following key points were made:

• NYS lab is developing capacity to do 1,000 tests per day—up from the current 250 per day.

• Combatting Asian stigma with multi-language support outreach to Asian communities

• The DOH has several warehouses throughout the state with stockpiles of drugs, masks and protective gear, ventilators, etc.

• There is a Preparedness Task Force in place and working.

• Quarantine is in place—mostly voluntarily.

3. The US Senate passed an $8.6 billion appropriations bill to support COVID-19 efforts.