Congress is expected to vote this week on a bill to pump billions of dollars into the federal response to the coronavirus, which continues to spread. Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) said Monday that the $7-8 billion is expected to pass the House and Senate by the end of the week.
"We’re doing everything we possibly can, and the bill this week coming out of the House and Senate that’s going to be a major funding bill to fund more lines of defense. $7-8 billion is what I’m hearing. By the end of the week we’ll have that signed into law," Katko said.
Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) attended a briefing on the coronavirus at the White House Tuesday with Vice President Mike Pence.
"We need to put politics aside and work together as a country to respond to this global crisis," Brindisi said in a statement.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Tuesday authorizing an additional $40 million for the state's response to the coronavirus. Currently, there are two confirmed cases in New York, both downstate. Cuomo also announced that two families from Buffalo are being tested for coronavirus, and are in isolation. Tuesday evening, Oneida County announced that two residents were being tested.
Cuomo and state health officials say that while residents should be prepared for the virus to spread, they should not worry.
"The real fact that's relevant is 80% of the people who get this virus will self-resolve, they may not even know they have the virus, it will be like a flu with mild symptoms," Cuomo said.
Cuomo also said that SUNY institutions will have students who are in study abroad programs in countries with high prevalence of coronavirus will be brought home.
Health officials from Onondaga, Oneida and Oswego counties plan to update the public on their response plans Wednesday.
