A test and trace program is being ramped up in New York City in a big effort to try and slow the spread of coronavirus.
By June, 25-hundred of what Mayor Bill de Blasio calls health foot soldiers will be deployed to track down people who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
“Those folks need to be asked can they isolate if they test positive. Do they need a hotel room. If they need a hotel room, they are going to need a lot of support, medical support, food laundry, you name it.”
He says the test and trace corp will try and prevent spread.
“This piece is going to supercharge our efforts to beat back this disease.”
While coronavirus data continues to trend in a positive direction, the mayor says the city not yet ready to reduce restrictions.
New York City is limiting the number of people in two well-known parks as a way to make it easier to social distance because of coronavirus.
Mayor de Blasio says last weekend, some parks were too crowded.
“We know it wasn’t just some stray individuals, it was really the physical reality of the park”
He says officers will be at the popular Hudson River Park by Pier 45 and Pier 46 and Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the start of the day this weekend.
“and keeping an eye to make sure the number of people never reaches too high a point and when it does, obviously asking people to move out, make more space, make sure there is turnover.”
The mayor says officials will see how this goes on the weekend and possibly implement the plan at other parks.