A groundbreaking report by the Empire Center has brought to light the harsh reality that COVID-19 had a severe impact on New York much earlier and more intensely than initially reported. In fact, the city experienced one of the deadliest peaks of the entire global pandemic. This revelation further undermines the claims made by former Governor Andrew Cuomo about his exceptional leadership during the crisis.
According to the report’s author, Bill Hammond, New York’s response to the pandemic was not just sub-par or below average, but among the least effective in the world when measured by the number of lives lost. Moreover, new research from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that the first wave of COVID-19 had already peaked by the time Cuomo and former Mayor Bill de Blasio shifted their stance from “nothing to worry about” to “lock everything down.” Furthermore, evidence suggests that the first known COVID-19 death in New York occurred in late January 2020, much earlier than previously believed.
The report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals that the widespread transmission of COVID-19 began in early February, and the infection rate likely reached its peak around March 19, three weeks earlier than previously thought. This insight could have had a significant impact on how officials handled the crisis if known at the time. It is particularly distressing to note that Cuomo’s order on March 25, which forced nursing homes to readmit infected patients, was unnecessary since hospitals were not in danger of being overwhelmed.
Additionally, it is worth recalling that the hospital ship USNS Comfort, with a capacity of 1,000 beds, and Javits Center, offering 2,500 beds, treated fewer than 700 patients combined. The Comfort departed Pier 90 on April 30, 2020, about a month after arriving, as it turned out to be unnecessary. It is fair to acknowledge that Cuomo relied on state data regarding COVID-19 tests, which indicated a later peak. However, this was due to federal restrictions on the use of tests other than the faulty one they had designed. New York’s leaders at the time should share blame for not thoroughly investigating and analyzing the data before taking drastic actions that were essentially ineffective.
Cuomo enjoyed considerable praise from the media for his daily press conferences, which were in stark contrast to those of the president. He later secured a $5 million book contract to boast about his leadership while illegally diverting staff resources to the project, all the while continuing with strict lockdown measures. As a consequence of Cuomo’s decisions, as well as those of his successor Kathy Hochul, New York endured prolonged lockdowns and school closures compared to most other states. Consequently, the state’s economy is recovering at a slower pace, while millions of students suffer from substantial learning losses.
Furthermore, according to Hammond, the metropolitan area’s COVID-19 death toll was among the highest globally, surpassed only by a handful of countries. This distressing fact underscores the urgent need for a well-functioning public health system that can anticipate and mitigate risks, as nearly every other city worldwide managed the crisis more effectively, despite facing similar disadvantages.
It is disheartening to note that New York has not learned from past failures and does not have a comprehensive plan in place to address future crises. Unless the city and state have competent leadership, including capable public health officials, in place, another disaster can be expected.
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