New York’s frontline healthcare staff have contracted the coronavirus at a charge considerably beneath that of the overall inhabitants, based on antibody testing outcomes revealed Thursday.
In what Gov. Andrew Cuomo known as “amazingly excellent news,” 12.2 p.c of staff screened within the 5 boroughs had antibodies to the bug, versus 19.9 p.c of these examined from the town’s general inhabitants.
The presence of antibodies in a single’s immune system signifies that they had been contaminated with the illness sooner or later, and should have constructed up some stage of immunity to it.
In Westchester County, 6.eight p.c of healthcare staff examined optimistic, versus 13.eight p.c of the overall inhabitants.
On Lengthy Island, the margin was a lot thinner, however healthcare staff nonetheless got here out forward, 11.1 p.c versus 11.four p.c.
All informed, the state screened roughly 27,000 healthcare staff throughout 25 services within the three downstate areas, Cuomo stated.
“What we came upon is absolutely excellent news,” he stated throughout a press briefing on the New York Medical Faculty in Valhalla, NY. “And one of many few positives that I’ve heard in a very long time.
“I imply, that’s amazingly excellent news.”
The governor stated that the findings underscore the significance of taking correct precautions, similar to masking your mouth and nostril with a masks or different masking, and utilizing hand sanitizer.
“It’s not that the front-line staff get something particularly extra subtle than the masks that individuals put on,” he stated. “However they observe protocol.”
The glimmer of fine information got here someday after one other examine yielded the “surprising” discovering that two-thirds of New Yorkers hospitalized had been admitted from their houses.
One other spherical of testing detailed final week revealed that just about 20 p.c of FDNY/EMS members and over 10 p.c of NYPD cops screened got here up optimistic for antibodies.
![A healthcare worker performs a coronavirus antibody test]()
“One of many prime priorities for us has been defending our frontline and our important staff,” stated Cuomo on Thursday. “They confirmed up and went to work and put their lives at risk.
“Have a look at the braveness that these frontline staff needed to present.”
The excellent news of the antibody testing was juxtaposed with a grim addition to the state’s demise toll.
One other 231 New Yorkers succumbed to the coronavirus within the 24-hour interval ending at midnight Thursday, working the general tally to an unthinkable 20,828 fatalities.
The each day demise toll have stubbornly hovered in that vary for days, with 226, 230 and 232 deaths reported on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
“That is the worst quantity, each day,” stated Cuomo. “You possibly can see how gradual that has come down, and the way painfully excessive it nonetheless is.”