'The number of positive cases is more a function of the number of tests we're taking,' Cuomo warned.
"Information and facts defeat fear," the governor said in a conference call."The anxiety in society is obviously an issue we have to address as much as we have to address dealing with the virus at this point."
Cuomo announced in the call Saturday morning that he will be directing insurers in the state to waive co-payments for telehealth visits, which have been encouraged by officials as health-system capacity becomes strained. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has hesitated to pursue widespread school closures in part because a substantial portion of the city's residents depends on schools for social services, such as free or reduced-cost meals.
The governor said that a seven-day waiting period for unemployment insurance claims arising from the outbreak will be waived, giving a boost to many of the state's under-insured or uninsured workers who may be wary of the economic costs of self-isolation.
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