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Coronavirus Preys on the Disabled in N.Y.: Live Updates Coronavirus Preys on the Disabled in N.Y.: Live Updates
(32 minutes later)
At a group home on Long Island for severely developmentally disabled people, 80 percent of residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. At a similar facility in Queens, three residents have died. At another in Manhattan, ambulances have become frequent visitors.At a group home on Long Island for severely developmentally disabled people, 80 percent of residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. At a similar facility in Queens, three residents have died. At another in Manhattan, ambulances have become frequent visitors.
As devastating as the virus has been in the general population, it is preying with particular ruthlessness in New York’s sprawling network of group homes for people with special needs. As devastating as the virus has been in the general population, it is preying with particular ruthlessness on New York’s sprawling network of group homes for people with special needs.
As of Monday, 105 of the 140,000 developmentally disabled people monitored by the state had died — double the state’s overall death rate. More than 1,100 had tested positive for the virus.As of Monday, 105 of the 140,000 developmentally disabled people monitored by the state had died — double the state’s overall death rate. More than 1,100 had tested positive for the virus.
A recent study found that residents of group homes and similar facilities in the New York City area were over 5 times more likely than the general population to develop Covid-19 and nearly that times more likely to die from it. A recent study found that residents of group homes and similar facilities in the New York City area were over 5 times more likely than the general population to develop Covid-19 and nearly times more likely to die from it.
People who worth with the disabled described the challenges of enforcing social distancing among them. People who work with the disabled described the challenges of enforcing social distancing among them.
“One of the individuals here is positive, and his behavior is to get up, to pace, and he wants to give me a hug, shake my hand,” said one caregiver on Staten Island. “They have a hard time realizing that they need to be isolated.”“One of the individuals here is positive, and his behavior is to get up, to pace, and he wants to give me a hug, shake my hand,” said one caregiver on Staten Island. “They have a hard time realizing that they need to be isolated.”
At the facility on Bayville, Long Island, run by CP Nassau, 37 of the 46 residents have tested positive, two have died and nine are hospitalized. At the facility on Long Island, 37 of the 46 residents have tested positive, two have died and nine are hospitalized.
“Forgive me if I get emotional,” said the home’s director, Bob McGuire. “People discount people with disabilities and presume they understand them when they don’t know them. They think their lives are not worth the same as yours or mine, and that’s just not true.”“Forgive me if I get emotional,” said the home’s director, Bob McGuire. “People discount people with disabilities and presume they understand them when they don’t know them. They think their lives are not worth the same as yours or mine, and that’s just not true.”
New research indicates that the coronavirus was in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case, and that travelers brought it mainly from Europe, not Asia.
While the federal government began to restrict travel between China and the U.S. in January, travelers could still move freely between Europe and America for another five weeks. It was those travelers, researchers found, who helped spread the coronavirus around New York.
“The majority is clearly European,” said Harm van Bakel, a geneticist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who co-wrote a study on the virus.
Two separate studies reached the same conclusion based on analyzing the genome of the virus, which carries distinctive mutations that allow scientists to track its movement and spread. The research revealed a previously hidden spread of the virus that might have been detected if aggressive testing had taken place.
The same sequencing method has been used to confirm that the coronavirus arose in bats.
So far, the Mount Sinai researchers have identified seven separate lineages of viruses that entered New York and began circulating.
Deaths from the coronavirus spiked to new highs in both New York and New Jersey for a second straight day on Wednesday, underscoring the outbreak’s continued grip on the region even as other figures showed that its impact was beginning to slow.Deaths from the coronavirus spiked to new highs in both New York and New Jersey for a second straight day on Wednesday, underscoring the outbreak’s continued grip on the region even as other figures showed that its impact was beginning to slow.
Another 779 people in New York state died of the virus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reported on Wednesday, compared with 731 the day before. In New Jersey, 275 people died, Gov. Philip D. Murphy said, up from 232 on Tuesday. Connecticut, which reported 49 new deaths on Wednesday after reporting 71 the day before, was the one state in the region not to report a new one-day high. Another 779 people in New York state died of the virus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reported on Wednesday, compared with 731 the day before. In New Jersey, 275 people died, Gov. Philip D. Murphy said, up from 232 on Tuesday.
Connecticut, which reported 49 new deaths on Wednesday after reporting 71 the day before, was the one state in the region not to report a new one-day high.
More people in New York and New Jersey have died — a total of 7,772 — than in the rest of the United States combined.More people in New York and New Jersey have died — a total of 7,772 — than in the rest of the United States combined.
Another grim distinction: New York State, with 149,316 confirmed cases, has had more people test positive for the virus than any country outside the United States, including Italy and Spain, the two other countries the pandemic has hit hardest.Another grim distinction: New York State, with 149,316 confirmed cases, has had more people test positive for the virus than any country outside the United States, including Italy and Spain, the two other countries the pandemic has hit hardest.
But Mr. Cuomo said hospitalization figures continued to show the curve of infection flattening in the state. The number of virus patients in hospitals increased 3 percent since Tuesday, the fifth consecutive day of increases below 10 percent. By contrast, 25 percent increases have been typical in recent weeks.But Mr. Cuomo said hospitalization figures continued to show the curve of infection flattening in the state. The number of virus patients in hospitals increased 3 percent since Tuesday, the fifth consecutive day of increases below 10 percent. By contrast, 25 percent increases have been typical in recent weeks.
Black and Hispanic people in New York City are about twice as likely to die of the virus as white people are, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday by the city.Black and Hispanic people in New York City are about twice as likely to die of the virus as white people are, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday by the city.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said early Wednesday that the disparities reflected economic inequity and differences in access to health care.Mayor Bill de Blasio said early Wednesday that the disparities reflected economic inequity and differences in access to health care.
“There are clear inequalities, clear disparities in how this disease is affecting the people of our city,” Mr. de Blasio said. “The truth is that in so many ways the negative effects of coronavirus, the pain it’s causing, the death it’s causing, tracks with other profound health care disparities that we have seen for years and decades.”“There are clear inequalities, clear disparities in how this disease is affecting the people of our city,” Mr. de Blasio said. “The truth is that in so many ways the negative effects of coronavirus, the pain it’s causing, the death it’s causing, tracks with other profound health care disparities that we have seen for years and decades.”
Mr. de Blasio and Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city’s health commissioner, stressed that some of the city’s Hispanic residents might have been discouraged from seeking medical care by the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has dominated the national discourse in recent years.Mr. de Blasio and Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the city’s health commissioner, stressed that some of the city’s Hispanic residents might have been discouraged from seeking medical care by the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has dominated the national discourse in recent years.
“The overlay of the anti-immigrant rhetoric across this country, I think, has real implications in the health of our community,” she said.“The overlay of the anti-immigrant rhetoric across this country, I think, has real implications in the health of our community,” she said.
Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday that the differences could be partly attributed to some groups having more untreated chronic health problems than others, making them more likely to die of the virus. But he also said that black and Hispanic people might also be disproportionately represented in the ranks of workers whose jobs on the front lines put them at risk.Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday that the differences could be partly attributed to some groups having more untreated chronic health problems than others, making them more likely to die of the virus. But he also said that black and Hispanic people might also be disproportionately represented in the ranks of workers whose jobs on the front lines put them at risk.
As The New York Times follows the spread of the coronavirus across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we need your help. We want to talk to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency services workers, nursing home managers — anyone who can share what they are seeing in the region’s hospitals and other health care centers. Even if you haven’t seen anything yet, we want to connect now so we can stay in touch in the future.As The New York Times follows the spread of the coronavirus across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we need your help. We want to talk to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency services workers, nursing home managers — anyone who can share what they are seeing in the region’s hospitals and other health care centers. Even if you haven’t seen anything yet, we want to connect now so we can stay in touch in the future.
A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.
Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Matthew Haag, Danny Hakim, Jeffery C. Mays and Andy Newman. Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Matthew Haag, Danny Hakim, Jeffery C. Mays, Andy Newman and Carl Zimmer.