As the coronavirus pandemic threatens to rip through hospitals and communities in the United States, the governor of America’s hardest-hit state backed a surge in testing kits that has provided sobering but accurate information on the spread of the disease.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his state has tested more people per capita than China and South Korea, two countries that have battled the flu-like respiratory sickness since as early as November 2019.
“New York State is doing more #Coronavirus tests per capita than China and South Korea,” Cuomo tweeted on Saturday morning. “We are doing more tests than any other state. So we know the numbers will go up. But that’s a good thing — we are identifying positive cases.”
Cuomo’s message is similar to that of White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. Deborah Birx, who said that the rising number of positive tests was a sign that U.S. officials are finally taking the pandemic seriously.
During a press conference on Saturday to address New York’s response to the coronavirus, Cuomo stressed the importance of showing compassion to neighbors and strangers.
“Practice humanity,” said Cuomo. “Now, if there’s ever a time to practice humanity, the time is now. The time is now to show some kindness, show some compassion to people, show some gentility even as a New Yorker.”
