Cuomo said 120 countries now need a negative test before leaving the UK, and some European countries have started closing their borders. But the US has not, and Cuomo called it “reprehensible”.
“We have about six flights a day from the UK and we have done absolutely nothing,” said Cuomo. “For me this is reprehensible because this is what happened in the spring. Coronavirus is in China. No, not, it is in Europe. It came from Europe and we did nothing.”
EU governments say they are acting in response to tougher measures imposed on Saturday in London and the surrounding area by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He immediately placed those regions in a new Tier 4 level of restrictions, saying that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appears to be causing the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England. .
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Cuomo kept comparing passivity to what happened in the spring.
“Right now, this variant is boarding a plane in the UK and flying to JFK. Right now today. 120 countries need a test. We don’t. Other European countries have imposed bans. We have not. And today is that variant is getting on a plane and landing at JFK How many times in life do you have to make the same mistake before you learn Be one of 120 countries that need a test before coming to the US This is the mistake we have made. “
Cuomo said the port authority does not have the power to ban passengers or monitor passenger health – it is federal.
Where’s HHS. Where’s CDC. Where’s NIH. This is the same mistake and literally six flights a day. And it only takes one person.
The Governor’s other major concern is that the new strain of the virus is 70% more transmissible. Experts say viruses mutate regularly, but many of these changes have no effect on how easily the virus spreads.
Cuomo said the state has received all of the vaccine shipments promised so far. He said he will have updated vaccination numbers on Monday, when he will also discuss the start of vaccinations in nursing homes.
The Thanksgiving spike seemed to affect the Tri-State region less than other states, he said.
“New York, Connecticut, New Jersey had fewer trips during Thanksgiving and it seems comparatively less of a peak,” Cuomo said.
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