Coronavirus Update, April 2, 2020
New York now has over 92,000 cases of the coronavirus, according to the state department of health. There are 4 confirmed cases of the virus in Schuyler County. In Tompkins County, there are 87 confirmed cases of COVID-19. According to the county health department, 56 of those cases have since seen resolved symptoms. In total, Tompkins County has conducted over 1500 tests for the virus.
New York Governor Cuomo announced in a press conference today that the state only has six days worth of ventilators left. He said that the state will begin using anesthesia machines as ventilators. Additionally, ventilator tubes are being “split” so two patients can share a ventilator, in addition to converting BiPAP machines into ventilators.
According to the New York Times, Governor Cuomo noted that 21,000 out-of-state medical workers have volunteered to work in New York’s hospitals. 85,000 volunteers in total are being sent to hospitals.
Ithaca Generator has partnered with Cornell University’s engineering school and Weill Medical Center by 3D printing face shields and other medical supplies. The project was started by an associate professor in math and radiology at Cornell University, according to the Ithaca Voice.
Ithaca Generator has since led a successful campaign that’s raised over 6,000 dollars to purchase 15 new printers. The goal is to give a couple thousand masks to Cayuga Medical Center and maybe expand to other local facilities, including Schuyler hospital. Over 4,700 face shields have been manufactured so far.
A recent increase in funding for the Development Council of Central New York has allowed them to expand their budget for child care scholarships and baby supplies for people feeling the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The money came from grants from the United Way of Tompkins County who gave over $10,254 from donor contributions, along with a grant from the Community Foundation of Tompkins County who gave $10,000.
According to the Ithaca Voice, families whose spending budgets were cut due to the Coronavirus outbreak now have access to diapers, wipes and baby formula through the initiative. Questions may be directed to babysupplies@childdevelopmentcouncil.org.
The Seneca Harbor Station and Captain Bill’s restaurants in Watkins Glen are now converting to grocery store distribution centers. In a letter to the Odessa File, the restaurant notes that they will use their supply chain to acquire staple grocery items.
The options currently include staple items like ground meat, bread, eggs, and flour, but the restaurant is looking to expand their offerings in the future. Customers can order using an online form, and pick up their groceries curbside on either Tuesdays or Saturdays. The online form needs to be completed well in advance, with the deadline for Tuesday pick up being on Sunday at noon, the deadline for Saturday pickup on Thursday at noon.
Visit senecaharborstation.com for more information.
A Cornell Computer scientist has created an automated system to fact check claims about the novel Coronavirus.
According to the Cornell Chronicle, Ian Trummer, the assistant professor for Computer Science at Cornell, and his team have designed the system using machine learning, data analysis, and human feedback. The system checks statistical claims against sources like the world health organization and the center for disease control to verify their truth.
The system launched in March, and has been used over nine thousand times since then. The site can be found at coronacheck.eurecom.fr.
Contributing writing by WRFI News Volunteer Jon Donville and News Intern Christian Maitre