NYS Coronavirus Update: NY Forward Reopening Plan -- Regional Monitoring Dashboard -- Control Room M

Today we enter a new phase of our battle against COVID-19. When we turn to reopening our state we will rely on data, science and metrics to guide us — as we have done all along. We will take a regional approach to reopening and will rely on seven core metrics to inform when a region is ready. The metrics require the infection, death and hospital rates meet specific standards, that the hospital capacity is there if needed and that testing and tracing are in place. (See the full criteria here.)

To keep everyone up to date on where things stand by region we launched a new regional monitoring dashboard that will be updated daily. Additionally, our NY Forward Reopening Plan, a clear and complete guide to reopening, offers a detailed look at the path forward. Together we flattened the curve and as we move into this next phase the same smart resolve, coupled with our commitment to each other, will get New York through.

Photo of the Day: The cover of the NY Forward book. Read it here.

Here's what else you need to know tonight:

1. The Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley regions are ready to begin reopening on May 15th. The regions have met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the reopening plan. Phase one includes reopening construction, manufacturing, retail for curbside pickup, agriculture, forestry and fishing.

2. New York will reopen certain low-risk business and recreational activities statewide on May 15th. This includes landscaping and gardening, low-risk outdoor recreational activities (like tennis) and drive-in movie theaters.

3. Regional "control rooms" have been announced to monitor key data during the reopening process. The groups will track the hospitalization rate, death rate, number of new hospitalizations, hospital bed capacity, ICU bed capacity, testing and contact tracing within its region. They will alert the state if any metrics go in the wrong direction — serving as a kind of control valve that will allow us to get people back to work and ease social isolation without triggering renewed spread of the virus or overwhelming the hospital system.

4. The number of total COVID hospitalizations are dropping steadily. Total hospitalizations fell to 7,226, from 7,262 the day before. The number of new COVID hospitalizations dropped to 477, down from 521 the day before. We are now at about the level we were when "New York on PAUSE" when into effect.

Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Last week, Northwell Health discharged their 10,000th recovered COVID patient. The Northwell system, one of the largest in the state, has cared for nearly 13,000 COVID patients in Long Island, New York City and Westchester hospitals since the beginning of the pandemic.

If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State's Coronavirus Updates here.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo