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| Buffalo braces to become a coronavirus battleground, even as Cuomo seeks statewide help for New York City | Buffalo braces to become a coronavirus battleground, even as Cuomo seeks statewide help for New York City |
| (2 months later) | |
| BUFFALO — Darius G. Pridgen is the pastor of three churches and heads the city council here in the second-most populated city in New York, two jobs that assured he would come face-to-face with hundreds of people each day. | BUFFALO — Darius G. Pridgen is the pastor of three churches and heads the city council here in the second-most populated city in New York, two jobs that assured he would come face-to-face with hundreds of people each day. |
| Initially, as coronavirus cases started appearing in New York City and its suburbs, Pridgen wasn’t particularly worried. New York City is a six-hour drive and a climate away from Buffalo, he thought. | Initially, as coronavirus cases started appearing in New York City and its suburbs, Pridgen wasn’t particularly worried. New York City is a six-hour drive and a climate away from Buffalo, he thought. |
| But Pridgen nevertheless decided about three weeks ago to shutter his Baptist churches, even though many parishioners thought his reaction was overblown. The Buffalo council members stopped in-person meetings. And Pridgen began limiting glad-handing his constituents, who include those living in the city’s revitalized waterfront as well as some of Buffalo’s poorest neighborhoods. | But Pridgen nevertheless decided about three weeks ago to shutter his Baptist churches, even though many parishioners thought his reaction was overblown. The Buffalo council members stopped in-person meetings. And Pridgen began limiting glad-handing his constituents, who include those living in the city’s revitalized waterfront as well as some of Buffalo’s poorest neighborhoods. |
| In Buffalo, however, there is one thing you don’t give up easily. Sunday family dinner went on as scheduled on March 15. | In Buffalo, however, there is one thing you don’t give up easily. Sunday family dinner went on as scheduled on March 15. |
| Two days later, Pridgen’s son, also a pastor, came down with flu-like symptoms and needed to be hospitalized for the novel coronavirus. Then, over the past two weeks, Pridgen, another of his sons and his daughter also got sick. His daughter is being kept alive on a ventilator, he said. | Two days later, Pridgen’s son, also a pastor, came down with flu-like symptoms and needed to be hospitalized for the novel coronavirus. Then, over the past two weeks, Pridgen, another of his sons and his daughter also got sick. His daughter is being kept alive on a ventilator, he said. |
| “I thought if anyone wasn’t going to get coronavirus, it was going to be me,” Pridgen said. “But it’s just swept through this community so quickly, like a tsunami. . . . It’s just flattened my family, and now I want everyone to know, ‘You just don’t know who has it.’ ” | “I thought if anyone wasn’t going to get coronavirus, it was going to be me,” Pridgen said. “But it’s just swept through this community so quickly, like a tsunami. . . . It’s just flattened my family, and now I want everyone to know, ‘You just don’t know who has it.’ ” |
| New CDC data shows danger of coronavirus for those with diabetes, heart or lung disease, other chronic conditions | New CDC data shows danger of coronavirus for those with diabetes, heart or lung disease, other chronic conditions |
| Pridgen, who received his diagnosis over the weekend, represents a wake-up call for western New York as the region braces to become the state’s next battleground in its ongoing public health crisis, even as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) struggles to contain the virus in the New York City region. | Pridgen, who received his diagnosis over the weekend, represents a wake-up call for western New York as the region braces to become the state’s next battleground in its ongoing public health crisis, even as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) struggles to contain the virus in the New York City region. |
| On Tuesday, as Cuomo announced the deaths of an additional 332 New York residents, the governor said the state was urging some health-care providers from upstate communities such as Buffalo to send staff and resources to New York City. Cuomo has hoped caseloads in New York peak before those resources are needed elsewhere. | On Tuesday, as Cuomo announced the deaths of an additional 332 New York residents, the governor said the state was urging some health-care providers from upstate communities such as Buffalo to send staff and resources to New York City. Cuomo has hoped caseloads in New York peak before those resources are needed elsewhere. |
| “We underestimated this virus. It’s more powerful. It’s more dangerous than we expected,” Cuomo said during a news conference in Albany. “You’re no longer just the western New York hospitals, or the central New York hospitals; it’s one coordinated system.” | “We underestimated this virus. It’s more powerful. It’s more dangerous than we expected,” Cuomo said during a news conference in Albany. “You’re no longer just the western New York hospitals, or the central New York hospitals; it’s one coordinated system.” |
| But even as they stress they are willing to help New York City, local leaders in Buffalo are already realizing they may need help here sooner than they could have imagined. | But even as they stress they are willing to help New York City, local leaders in Buffalo are already realizing they may need help here sooner than they could have imagined. |
| “We have to take this seriously, and we have to assume nearly everyone we come in contact with either has it, or has been in contact with someone who has it,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (D). | “We have to take this seriously, and we have to assume nearly everyone we come in contact with either has it, or has been in contact with someone who has it,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (D). |
| In Buffalo and its suburbs, the number of coronavirus cases has been doubling every three days. There are now 499 cases in Erie County, which have resulted in eight deaths. With local hospitals bracing for an influx of sick patients, the situation serves as a reminder that the worst of the crisis could soon shift away from coastal cities and deeper into the Midwest and here in the Great Lakes. | In Buffalo and its suburbs, the number of coronavirus cases has been doubling every three days. There are now 499 cases in Erie County, which have resulted in eight deaths. With local hospitals bracing for an influx of sick patients, the situation serves as a reminder that the worst of the crisis could soon shift away from coastal cities and deeper into the Midwest and here in the Great Lakes. |
| “I think we are at least two to three weeks behind New York,” said Thomas Russo, chief of the division of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. “We are kind of at a tipping point right now, and over the next few weeks, we are going to find out just how many cases we have and whether we can handle it.” | “I think we are at least two to three weeks behind New York,” said Thomas Russo, chief of the division of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. “We are kind of at a tipping point right now, and over the next few weeks, we are going to find out just how many cases we have and whether we can handle it.” |
| On Tuesday, for example, the union that represents Buffalo firefighters announced that 16 of its members have tested positive, while another 50 are sick with flu-like symptoms. Seventeen Buffalo police officers have also been diagnosed with coronavirus, according to city officials. Neighboring Niagara County has reported 56 cases, including two 1-year-olds. | On Tuesday, for example, the union that represents Buffalo firefighters announced that 16 of its members have tested positive, while another 50 are sick with flu-like symptoms. Seventeen Buffalo police officers have also been diagnosed with coronavirus, according to city officials. Neighboring Niagara County has reported 56 cases, including two 1-year-olds. |
| Testing coronavirus survivors’ blood could help reopen U.S. | Testing coronavirus survivors’ blood could help reopen U.S. |
| The increasing number of cases comes as hospitals in the region have been battered by waves of downsizing and consolidation in recent years. Before the coronavirus crisis, there were only about 275 permanent intensive-care beds, with about half of them located at three major hospitals in Erie County, according to New York Department of Health data. | The increasing number of cases comes as hospitals in the region have been battered by waves of downsizing and consolidation in recent years. Before the coronavirus crisis, there were only about 275 permanent intensive-care beds, with about half of them located at three major hospitals in Erie County, according to New York Department of Health data. |
| So far, only about one-fourth of those beds are occupied by coronavirus patients, according to Gale Burstein, Erie County’s health commissioner. | So far, only about one-fourth of those beds are occupied by coronavirus patients, according to Gale Burstein, Erie County’s health commissioner. |
| “We still have some room,” said Russo, who also practices at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. “But we are just going to have see where we end up. The good news is, we’ve had more time to gather ourselves and prepare.” | “We still have some room,” said Russo, who also practices at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. “But we are just going to have see where we end up. The good news is, we’ve had more time to gather ourselves and prepare.” |
| But despite daily warnings from Cuomo and local leaders that residents needed to take the threat seriously and stay at home, Buffalo’s case is a reminder that it’s been difficult to drive home that point to some segments of the population. | But despite daily warnings from Cuomo and local leaders that residents needed to take the threat seriously and stay at home, Buffalo’s case is a reminder that it’s been difficult to drive home that point to some segments of the population. |
| Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, a well-celebrated holiday that usually sees tens of thousands of revelers crowd city streets and pack bars, huge throngs of people congregated despite both of the city’s parades being canceled. Last weekend, police had to shut down two bars in western New York that defied a statewide ban, including Swannie House, a legendary shot-and-beer joint that has served factory workers at the nearby General Mills plant for decades. | Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, a well-celebrated holiday that usually sees tens of thousands of revelers crowd city streets and pack bars, huge throngs of people congregated despite both of the city’s parades being canceled. Last weekend, police had to shut down two bars in western New York that defied a statewide ban, including Swannie House, a legendary shot-and-beer joint that has served factory workers at the nearby General Mills plant for decades. |
| “I don’t think anybody took it seriously around here,” said Leah Washburn, a physician assistant at St. Joseph’s Hospital, which was recently converted into the state’s first devoted to treating covid-19 patients. “I know when you work in the medical field, you take it seriously.” | “I don’t think anybody took it seriously around here,” said Leah Washburn, a physician assistant at St. Joseph’s Hospital, which was recently converted into the state’s first devoted to treating covid-19 patients. “I know when you work in the medical field, you take it seriously.” |
| Washburn has been working 13-hour shifts. She and her husband, also a physician assistant, have been doing their best to balance their schedules, staggering shifts so they can share child care duties. | Washburn has been working 13-hour shifts. She and her husband, also a physician assistant, have been doing their best to balance their schedules, staggering shifts so they can share child care duties. |
| They had been using family for child care before, but suspended that arrangement indefinitely. Both fear they are likely to be carriers at some point. | They had been using family for child care before, but suspended that arrangement indefinitely. Both fear they are likely to be carriers at some point. |
| As of now, Washburn has not seen shortages of personal protective equipment or ventilators. But she’s not sure how long that will last. Seeing news stories out of New York City has driven up her level of stress, she said. | As of now, Washburn has not seen shortages of personal protective equipment or ventilators. But she’s not sure how long that will last. Seeing news stories out of New York City has driven up her level of stress, she said. |
| “Our anxiety is that that’s what’s going to start to happen here,” she said of New York City’s dramatic spike in cases and deaths. “We’re going to start to run out of places and supplies for these people as well.” | “Our anxiety is that that’s what’s going to start to happen here,” she said of New York City’s dramatic spike in cases and deaths. “We’re going to start to run out of places and supplies for these people as well.” |
| Based on his family’s experience, Pridgen believes the trauma now unfolding in New York is already in Buffalo, even if many people don’t realize it. | Based on his family’s experience, Pridgen believes the trauma now unfolding in New York is already in Buffalo, even if many people don’t realize it. |
| Pridgen, who has served on the Buffalo council for a decade, said he’s particularly worried because Buffalo’s large African American community appeared until recently to think the coronavirus wasn’t a threat. | Pridgen, who has served on the Buffalo council for a decade, said he’s particularly worried because Buffalo’s large African American community appeared until recently to think the coronavirus wasn’t a threat. |
| “I had heard so many people in the African American community say, ‘This would not hit the African American community,’ ” said Pridgen. “And boy, were they wrong. . . . All the people I know now with coronavirus are African Americans.” | “I had heard so many people in the African American community say, ‘This would not hit the African American community,’ ” said Pridgen. “And boy, were they wrong. . . . All the people I know now with coronavirus are African Americans.” |
| Pridgen still isn’t sure whether he exposed his adult children — or if one of them infected him. | Pridgen still isn’t sure whether he exposed his adult children — or if one of them infected him. |
| But a few days after his son was diagnosed, Pridgen developed a fever and then a bad cough. His daughter’s symptoms developed a few days after that, requiring her to be hospitalized and, on Monday night, intubated. | But a few days after his son was diagnosed, Pridgen developed a fever and then a bad cough. His daughter’s symptoms developed a few days after that, requiring her to be hospitalized and, on Monday night, intubated. |
| Now secluded in his house, Pridgen is angered that Erie County lags behind much of the rest of the state in testing. According to the Buffalo News, Erie County ranks last in terms of testing for New York’s large urban counties, and Pridgen said he knows “many people who have symptoms but they cannot be tested” due to a limited supply of tests. | Now secluded in his house, Pridgen is angered that Erie County lags behind much of the rest of the state in testing. According to the Buffalo News, Erie County ranks last in terms of testing for New York’s large urban counties, and Pridgen said he knows “many people who have symptoms but they cannot be tested” due to a limited supply of tests. |
| Russo, the infectious disease specialist, said that based on reports from overseas, Erie County likely has 10 times more cases than the 499 that have been reported. But Russo still isn’t sure whether Buffalo — or other similarly sized cities including Cleveland and Pittsburgh — will see a “worst-case scenario.” | Russo, the infectious disease specialist, said that based on reports from overseas, Erie County likely has 10 times more cases than the 499 that have been reported. But Russo still isn’t sure whether Buffalo — or other similarly sized cities including Cleveland and Pittsburgh — will see a “worst-case scenario.” |
| Those three cities, Russo said, may benefit from less density and mass transportation use when compared to New York. But he worries residents in those cities have also been less compliant with stay-at-home orders. | Those three cities, Russo said, may benefit from less density and mass transportation use when compared to New York. But he worries residents in those cities have also been less compliant with stay-at-home orders. |
| “This is not just a public health experiment, this is also a social experiment,” Russo said. | “This is not just a public health experiment, this is also a social experiment,” Russo said. |
| Based on what Pridgen saw when he left the house briefly last week to get his coronavirus test, Buffalo is still struggling to pass that test. | Based on what Pridgen saw when he left the house briefly last week to get his coronavirus test, Buffalo is still struggling to pass that test. |
| “There were still a lot of activity in the local delicatessen, there were still a lot of people gathering and talking in close quarters,” Pridgen recalled. “All I could I do was drive. . . . But I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want you to suffer like I am suffering.’ ” | “There were still a lot of activity in the local delicatessen, there were still a lot of people gathering and talking in close quarters,” Pridgen recalled. “All I could I do was drive. . . . But I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want you to suffer like I am suffering.’ ” |
| Craig reported from Washington. | Craig reported from Washington. |
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