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Prevention

Everyone should:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.

Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.

For people who are sick:

Stay home.

If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen.

Keep sick household members away from others. If you have a separate room that is best.

Use soap and water, a bleach and water solution, or EPA-approved household products. You can make your own cleanser with a mixture of 1 cup of liquid unscented chlorine bleach in 5 gallons of water.

Avoid sharing personal items.

Anyone at high risk for complications should talk to their healthcare provider for more information.

COVID-19 in Younger People
July 23, 2020: Governor Cuomo announced the State is monitoring a significant rise in COVID-19 cases among younger people.

The weekly average COVID-19 rate among 21 to 30-year-olds has increased to 13.2 percent from 9.9 percent.

Younger New Yorkers are urged to educate themselves on the misconception of their vulnerability to COVID-19. Young people can get seriously sick and can die from the virus, and can bring it home and give it to others inadvertently.

To deliver the importance of this message, a social and PSA campaign has been launched to communicate the hard facts to young people:

Associated Documents:

Masks & Face Coverings Guidance

Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low-cost, and should be used as a public health measure, beyond social distancing.

Individuals must procure, fashion, or otherwise obtain face coverings and wear them when they are in a public and are:

When wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especiallyin areas of significant community transmission, you should:

Do not touch the cloth covering or face.

Continue to be vigilant with thorough and frequent hand washing with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer of 60%+ alcohol.

Practice respiratory etiquette and cover your coughs or sneezes.

Practice social distancing - even when wearing masks.

Stay home and help flatten the curve!

While cloth face coverings may not prevent the wearer from becoming infected, they might help slow spread from people who have the virus and are unaware.

Read the guidance document on use of cloth face coverings by the NYS Department of Health.

Executive Order 202.16 directs employers to provide essential workers with masks free of charge to wear when interacting with the public.
Businesses Can Deny Entry
Executive Order 202.34 authorizes businesses to deny entry to individuals who do not wear masks or face-coverings.

Public Service Announcement

Matilda's Law

Governor Cuomo announced "Matilda's Law" - a guideline - to protect New Yorkers age 70+ and those with compromised immune systems.

Under the law, vulnerable New Yorkers are advised to:

Remain indoors

Go outside for solitary exercise

Pre-screen all visitors by taking their temperature

Wear a mask in the company of others

Stay at least 6 feet from others

Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary

Prepare

Make a Plan

Create plans for school, work, and home.

Make a list of people and organizations who can help if you become sick. Consider: family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, healthcare services, and other resources like mental health services.

Join a neighborhood website or social media page to stay connected to neighbors, information, and resources.

Plan ways to care for family members at risk for serious complications, such as older people and people with chronic health conditions.

Plan as if it is a Winter Storm

There is no need to buy large quantities of supplies. But it's a good idea to pick up a few extra items each time you go to the market or pharmacy. That way, you're prepared and can avoid crowds.

Pick up some extra foods like canned goods, dry pasta, and peanut butter.

Have soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen on hand.

Plan for Changes to Your Daily Schedule
At School:

Make plans to care for your children if schools are closed temporarily. Just like you would for snow days.

Make plans for alternate after-school care in case they are closed temporarily.

At Work:

Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick, or if your child's school is temporarily closed.

Managing Stress and Anxiety

New York State is partnering with Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation, to offer free meditation and mindfulness content for all New Yorkers as a mental health resource for residents coping with the unprecedented public health crisis. New Yorkers can access a collection of science-backed, evidence-based guided meditations, along with at-home mindful workouts, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety at www.headspace.com/ny.
Call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
Get Help Immediately

If you experience significant changes in your energy level, eating patterns, or sleeping patterns, difficulty concentrating on normal tasks, prolonged and overwhelming worry and hopelessness, or thoughts of self-injury or suicide, seek immediate help at
the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1- 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Got5 to 741741.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led many individuals to feeling afraid, anxious and stressed. Here are some tips to help manage your stress and anxiety levels during this uncertain time.

Reduce anxiety by reducing risk including practicing good hygiene, and creating a plan in case your regular routine is disrupted.

Monitor your anxiety levels.

Practice good self-care by exercising, eating healthy foods, practicing mindfulness, sleeping enough at night and going outside when permittable.

Virtually reach out to diff erent types of support networks, such as family, friends, colleagues and faith-based communities.

Find meaningful tasks and roles within your support network to channel your anxiety.

Find or create spaces that are not focused on COVID-19.

Savor small positive moments, amplify positive stories, and stay optimistic.

Take an opportunity to practice mindfulness when managing anxiety. Mindfulness tools like grounding exercises, sensory modulation, and deep breathing may be helpful.

Tips for Mental Wellness (Español | বাংলা | 中文 | Р УС С К И Й | Kreyòl Ayisyen | 한국어를)
How to manage COVID related stress and anxiety
Mental Health Resources During an Emergency

Enjoy Life Safely

Enjoy Takeout Food and Delivery

Ordering takeout food is the right way to social distance.

Learn More

Enjoy the Outdoors

Getting outdoors to walk, jog, hike, garden, ride a bicycle or visit a park are healthy ways to stay active, spend time with your family, and reduce stress and anxiety while engaging in social distancing strategies.

These are some simple ways you can protect you and your family from COVID-19 while enjoying the outdoors.
Everyone must:

Avoid close contact with people, even when outside. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Avoid games and activities that require close contact.

Avoid frequently touched surfaces and objects. This includes playground equipment like slides and swings.

Don't share equipment such as bicycles, helmets, balls or frisbees.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard the tissue in a closed container.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol in these instances:

When you return indoors,

before and after eating,

after using the restroom,

after coughing or sneezing, and

after touching surfaces or items that may be contaminated.

If you are sick or had contact with someone who is sick in the last 14 days:

You should stay home.

You may enjoy spending time in your own backyard or other personal outdoor space but should not go into public outdoor spaces.

Stay Informed

Stay connected on your state and local health department's social media pages and websites for timely and accurate COVID-19 information.

Questions? Call the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline: 1-888-364-3065

If you live alone and become sick, you may need to ask for help. If you have a chronic disease and live alone, ask your friends, family, and health care providers to check on you.

If you decide to attend a public event, practice good health habits.

Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and others at the event.

Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, and kissing.

Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs and handrails.

Translations

Protect yourself from COVID-19 and stop the spread of germs.

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Protect Yourself and Your Family from Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Everyone should: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

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Cuomo: WNY still has highest 7-day COVID positive rate in the state

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The governor told 2 On Your Side's Kelly Dudzik he blames it on people's behavior, specifically the lack of mask wearing. There's no evidence to back that claim.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Western New York remains the area of New York state with the highest COVID-19 positivity rate Governor Cuomo said Friday.

Speaking from New York City, the governor told 2 On Your Side's Kelly Dudzik he blames it on people's behavior and specifically cited the lack of mask wearing.

However, when 2 on Your Side asked the New York State Department of Health if it has done any studies, surveys, or has any data to show that people in Western New York wear masks any less frequently than those in other parts of the state, it said it keep no data on mask compliance

"The demand has dropped in Western New York and the positivity rate is higher in Western New York, there's no doubt about that. But I think that is more of a community response and behavior. I think you have people who don't take as many precautions. They don't take it as seriously. And the sequitur to that is that I don't want to wear this ( holds up a mask)," said Cuomo. "If I don't believe COVID-19 is a serious risk, if I don't believe in the precautions, then I don't believe in getting a vaccine. Right? It's a continuum. And we have seen that in Western New York, we have seen it in other parts of the state, from the get-go, from the very beginning.

"This is no new story in Western New York," he added. "When COVID-19 started in Western New York, you had a higher positivity rate than many other part of the state - right out of the box. One of the lowest mask compliance rates, right out of the box. One of the highest resistance to any of the rules; bars, restaurants, schools, businesses, because people, some people, do not take the COVID-19 issue as seriously. And obviously you will see that in vaccinations, because if I'm not going to wear this ( showing a mask), I'm not going to roll up my sleeve and get a shot.

However, the latest data from the health department shows that the vaccination rate in Western New York is actually above the state average.

"Look at your infection rate. And at one point, the numbers did change in Western New York. When they saw on the nightly news that people were going into the hospitals and people were dying, they took it seriously. The numbers changed. I think we're now in a period now where people have COVID-19 fatigue," said Cuomo.

Cuomo said 45 people around the state died from the virus on Thursday.

Asked why the governor is not allowing media to attend his briefings now that COVID rates are declining, Cuomo said he's done news conferences in every 'shape or form' for 30 years and he transitioned to virtual briefings like many other elected officials have since the pandemic began.

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Cuomo: WNY still has highest 7-day COVID positive rate in the state

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The governor told 2 On Your Side's Kelly Dudzik he blames it on people's behavior, specifically the lack of mask wearing. There's no evidence to back that claim. BUFFALO, N.Y. - Western New York remains the area of New York state with the highest COVID-19 positivity rate Governor Cuomo said Friday.

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Daily Updates for NYS

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Today's update on the numbers:

Total COVID hospitalizations are at 3,198.

Of the 217,972 tests reported yesterday, 4,087 were positive (1.88% of total).

Sadly, there were 50 fatalities. pic.twitter.com/AmuOFRGNsi
— NYSDOH (@HealthNYGov) April 25, 2021

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Information Technology:
NYSDOH COVID-19 Tracker

Rationale For Use:
Provides daily updates on COVID-19 epidemiology in New York State

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Communication Technology:
Social Media

Rationale For Use:
Rapidly disseminate information related to coronavirus disease and vaccination

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COVID-19 Daily Tracking Information for NYS
Tables, charts, and graphs with daily updates that track the coronavirus in New York State by county

Rationale For Use:
Provides accurate up to date information regarding the coronavirus in New York State

Accessing Outcome Data:
https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-DailyTracker?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n

Evaluating Outcome Data:
This information allows for daily comparisons, as well as gives the ability to trend data regardless disease transmission

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1. Get vaccinated
2. Wear a mask

How reduce risks:
The risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 is reduced by receiving a vaccination when it is your turn, and wearing a mask in public at all times

How improve outcomes/healthy lifestyle:
Vaccination and wearing a mask are just two of many protocols to follow that have been shown to dramatically reduce COVID-19 risk

How enhance accessibility to care:
Vaccination and mask wearing are 100% free. Vaccinations are provided for the US government to all individuals living in the country regardless of immigration or health insurance status, thereby eliminating issues regarding access to care

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Mask Up America