Governor Kathy Hochul (proper) and New York Metropolis social employee Tanaya England at a information convention on Wednesday. Picture: Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochul
August 03, 2022 —
Gov. Kathy Hochul says she and state well being officers are coping with ongoing outbreaks of two illnesses, COVID-19 and monkeypox. She additionally says the state is launching two packages to higher reply to future well being crises.
Hochul is stepping up efforts towards monkeypox, with a brand new provide of vaccines and intensified schooling efforts. With greater than 1,600 circumstances of the virus, New York has had 1 / 4 of all circumstances in america. The illness not often results in demise or hospitalization, but it surely does trigger fever and painful lesions that may depart everlasting scars.
The governor stated an govt order she signed Friday night time will enable EMTs, pharmacists and different well being professionals to manage the 110,000 new doses of monkeypox vaccine New York will obtain from the federal authorities through the upcoming weeks.
“We’re coping with this outbreak with the urgency that it requires,” Hochul stated. “Attempt to defend communities and distribute vaccines.”
Hochul stated the state can also be bracing for a attainable new wave of COVID-19 circumstances when the climate cools in a few months and folks spend extra time indoors. She says officers are stockpiling speedy checks for faculties, in addition to extra private protecting gear.
Scarcity of well being personnel
The Governor additionally introduced two new packages funded within the state price range as a part of a $10 billion multi-year effort to spice up the state’s well being care workforce by 20% over the following 5 years and deal with what has change into in persistent scarcity.
“It isn’t only a disaster for these employees,” Hochul stated. “It is a disaster for all of us who actually need that well being care as nicely.”
A brand new scholarship program goals to assist alleviate the nursing scarcity by offering 1,000 new nursing college students with free tuition at New York Metropolis and state public schools and universities. The state has greater than 9,300 openings for registered nurses.
Tanaya England, a social employee with the New York Metropolis Administration for Youngsters’s Providers and a mom of two, stated this system will assist her fulfill her long-time aspiration to change into a nurse.
“A scholarship won’t solely assist me pursue a profession in nursing and my goals. It is also a step ahead to help my household,” England stated.
The governor additionally launched a $1.three billion program to pay hiring and retention bonuses to all healthcare employees within the state who earn lower than $125,000 a 12 months. The cash averages round $three,000 per employee.
The plan is backed by the state’s main hospital foyer teams and the SEIU 1199 healthcare employees union. In late July, the union endorsed Hochul in her bid for a full time period as governor.
