Hochul To Convene Task Force To Study Long-Haul COVID-19

LONG ISLAND, NY — As the number of new coronavirus cases continues to drop dramatically statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new initiative to study Long COVID.

New York State, led by the State's Department of Health, will be hosting an expert panel on Long COVID on Thursday, Hochul said.

The event will be hosted by State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett, and consist of three panels featuring the research, clinical, and functional aspects of the critical public health challenge.

"As New York continues its battle against COVID-19, we are taking action to address the impacts of Long COVID, which include a wide range of symptoms that continue to adversely affect the health and well-being of New Yorkers," Hochul said.

The forum will include specialists, clinicians, social scientists, advocates, and others who will gather to share their experience, expertise, and insights. The discussion and findings will inform the state's response to long COVID— including policy, regulatory, and program considerations, Hochul said.

Some New Yorkers who have previously been infected with COVID-19 continue to experience a wide range of physical, mental, emotional, and psychological symptoms that affect their daily lives. Symptoms can vary, from heart palpitations to difficulty breathing and excessive fatigue and can include difficulty concentrating or other psychological symptoms, Hochul said.

Long COVID symptoms can also occur even if the initial COVID illness is not severe and can last for months or even a year, Hochul said.

The free event will be held virtually and is open to the public. It will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The symposium will feature three separate panel discussions throughout the day.

New Yorkers can register for the free virtual event here.

On Tuesday, Hochul said the number of new cases stood at 7,119, down from 90,000 on January 7 — a 92 percent drop.

The state's positivity is also seeing a sharp decline, with the seven-day average at 5.9 percent, a 17 point drop, from a peak of 23 percent on January 2, she said. On Long Island, the positivity rate stood at 7.58 percent Monday.

Hospitalizations statewide stand at 7,100, a 43 percent drop in hospitalizations, Hochul said.

There were 122 deaths Monday, Hochul said.

Hochul also discussed a health care system overburdened and exhausted — and said the state needed to address staffing shortages that existed even before the pandemic.

"There are two factors here, the exhaustion, the fatigue. What they've seen, these workers who've been here, is the loss of colleagues and those, despite their training, the almost insurmountable number of people came in and lost their lives. That touches you. That has an effect on you. And yes, they're strong. They're incredible individuals, but they're also human beings. And this has been really tough on them," Hochul said.

She reminded that her budget includes a $10 billion investment in health care. "We have to stop the hemorrhaging of current health care workers. They're still leaving," she said.

The state, Hochul said, is investing more than $4 billion in bonuses and wages for health care workers, as well as retention bonuses of up to $3,000 for our direct care workers and health care workers as well.

Also, Hochul said, there is a need to bring doctors and nurses from other states, making it easier for them to come to New York and to use their existing licenses. Hochul also discussed expanding capacity in medical institutions and helping to support students to support their education with free tuition stipends. Investment needs to be made in rebuilding hospitals and nursing homes, she said; $1.6 billion has been allocated for the actual facilities, Hochul said.

Hochul also still wants to ensure kids are vaccinated and on Tuesday, she said the state is taking two actions to remove barriers for parents to get support. In early December, President Joe Biden required Medicaid to cover COVID vaccine counseling visits; Hochul said that policy should extend to all insurers.

Also, she said: "The insurance companies should be covering the incentives," and urged creativity in thinking of incentives to get kids vaccinated.