The states of California and New York are both facing a national challenge, a fight with COVID-19. This modern pandemic is straining resources on both coasts, but the outcomes have been quite different. Two of the largest states in the nation are facing the same virus, and suffering two very different tolls.
January 26, 2020
March 1, 2020
February 2, 2020
CALIFORNIA
NEW YORK
1st cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in California in Los Angeles and Orange counties. In both instances, the individuals had traveled to Wuhan, China.
January 31, 2020
1st known person-to-person transmission: a woman infected by her husband who had traveled to Wuhan.
1st case confirmed in Northern California (Santa Clara County) by a person who had traveled to Wuhan, China and Singapore
February 3, 2020
March 13, 2020
Santa Clara County declares local health emergency
-1st death in California
-Gov. Gavin Newsom declares a statewide emergency
1st case of community transmission in the state discovered in Solano County
-Gov. Newsom asks restaurants to do take out only, closes gyms and movie theaters
-State Legislature passes $1.1B emergency spending to fight virus
San Francisco declares state of emergency
February 25, 2020
March 4, 2020
March 11, 2020
March 12, 2020
March 17, 2020
March 16, 2020
March 15, 2020
March 22, 2020
March 9, 2020
-Santa Clara bans gatherings of more than 1,000 people
-Grand Princess docks in Oakland with infected passengers
Gov. Newsom recommends against gatherings of more than 250 people
Gov. Newsom extends state business tax deadline
Gov. Newsom asks seniors to isolate, restricts senior home visits, asks bars and restaurants to reduce capacity
-Santa Clara bans gatherings of more than 100 people
-School districts around the state start closing
Gov. Newsom issues statewide stay-at-home order, closing schools and non-essential businesses
DMV offices close
-San Francisco bans large gatherings on city property
-Largest school district in Northern California closes
March 7, 2020
February 26, 2020
March 26, 2020
April 1, 2020
March 18, 2020
March 27, 2020
March 30, 2020
April 6, 2020
March 23, 2020
March 19, 2020
March 20, 2020
March 20, 2020
Parking lots at state beaches and parks close to discourage people from gathering
National Guard activated
-Los Angeles County closes all beaches and trails
-Gov. Newsom issues moratorium on evictions
Pres. Trump grants disaster declaration in California
Six Bay Area counties issue shelter-in-place orders
Bay Area extends shelter-in-place
New York DMV offices close
California donates 500 ventilators to other states to meet demands
State superintendent says schools will likely be closed through summer
Gov. Cuomo's stay-at-home order takes effect, most businesses close
Gov. Newsom announces planning has begun to reopen state
Gov. Newsom says curve is "bending" and "stretching"
Gov. Cuomo orders city playgrounds close, but open spaces remain open
April 7, 2020
March 31, 2020
April 2, 2020
April 14, 2020
Cases: 2
Cases: 133
Cases: 6
Cases: 9
Cases: 53
Cases: 177
Cases: 88
Cases: 3
February 14, 2020
San Diego County declares local health emergency
Cases: 247
Cases: 198
Cases: 335
Cases: 392
Cases: 472
Cases: 675
Cases: 6,932
Cases: 3,801
Cases: 1,733
Cases: 3,006
Cases: 8,155
Cases: 1,468
Cases: 1,006
Cases: 15,865
Cases: 16,957
March 3, 2020
March 10, 2020
March 12, 2020
March 9, 2020
March 6, 2020
March 7, 2020
March 14, 2020
March 13, 2020
1st case reported in New York: a woman who traveled from Iran
2nd case detected in a man from Westchester County; feared he may have already spread the virus widely
Colleges and universities start closing
1st death in New York
Gov. Andrew Coumo declares statewide emergency
Gov. Cuomo closes movie theaters, gyms, casinos, and bans gatherings of more than 50 people
Gov. Cuomo bans gatherings of more than 500 people
National Guard sets up containment zone in New Rochelle, NY
New York Public Library and some NYC museums close
Mayor Bill de Blasio urges New Yorkers who feel sick to stay home.
March 15, 2020
-Schools close statewide
-Mayor de Blasio recommends shelter-in-place order for NYC, but Gov. Cuomo shuts down the idea
Pres. Trump grants disaster declaration in New York
March 22, 2020
March 23, 2020
Gov. Cuomo warns NY only has ventilators to last another six days
April 6, 2020
New York extends stay-at-home order through the end of month
April 11, 2020
Mayor de Blasio announces schools will be closed through summer; Gov. Cuomo disagrees
April 13, 2020
Gov. Cuomo announces alliance with Northeastern states to eventually lift restrictions
Cases: 1
Cases: 195
Cases: 151
Cases: 60
Cases: 36
Cases: 2
Cases: 20,875
Cases: 517
Cases: 648
Cases: 942
Cases: 10,356
Cases: 25,665
Cases: 4,152
Cases: 353
Cases: 188,694
Cases: 92,381
Cases: 138,863
Cases: 102,863
CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK
A TIMELINE OF TWO STATES
California's first confirmed COVID-19 case was more than a month before New York. But by mid-March, New York surpassed California, and cases spiraled out of control. Both states face unique challenges, and there are differences in the way each state's leaders addressed the threat of coronavirus. Those decisions have meant the difference between life and death. While it may be years before we know the full scope of the virus' impact, it's clear that so far New York has paid a much higher price. Could the outcome have been different had leaders in New York reacted more like their counterparts in California? Here's how the coronavirus crisis unfolded in each state.
Mayor de Blasio signs executive order closing bars and restaurants, except for take out and delivery
March 16, 2020
Cases: 1,374
“To be clear, this declaration of emergency is all about preparedness. By declaring a state of emergency we are prioritizing the safety of our communities by being prepared.”
-Mayor London Breed
“...there’s no reason for concern.”
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo on CNN
“Finally, we need everyone to do their part in reducing overcrowding. I know that sounds impossible in New York City, but consider some basic steps like telecommuting if your job allows it. Plan to have some extra travel time in your commute. If the train that pulls up is too packed, move to a different car or wait to take the next one. Bike or walk to work if you can.”
-Mayor Bill de Blasio
"Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago.”
-Mayor Bill de Blasio
“New Rochelle is a particular problem. … The numbers have been going up, the numbers continue to go up. The numbers are going up unabated and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.”
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo
“That is not going to happen, shelter-in-place. For New York City, or any city or county to take an emergency action, the state has to approve it. And I wouldn’t approve shelter in place. That scares people, right? Quarantine in place, you can’t leave your home. The fear, the panic, is a bigger problem than the virus.”
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo on “The Daily”
"It is not a shelter-in-place order. First of all, words matter, California does not have a shelter-in-place order, they put in a new policy. It is not shelter-in-place. This is why words matter, because people are scared and people panic. Shelter-in-place is used currently for an active shooter or a school shooting."
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo
"At the current burn rate, we have about six days of ventilators in our stockpile...
If the person comes in and needs a ventilator and you don't have a ventilator, the person dies.”
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo
"That's his opinion, but he didn't close them and he can't open them...There has been no decision"
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo
“I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart.”
-Gov. Andrew Cuomo
“Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects - saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now.”
-Gov. Gavin Newsom
"This is a moment we need to make tough decisions..We need to recognize reality.''
-Gov. Gavin Newsom
“We’re meeting this moment with compassion. I know that if the tables were turned and we were experiencing a hospital surge, other states would come to our aid and provide ventilators just as we are today.”
-Gov. Gavin Newsom
"The curve is bending, but it is also stretching. … We are seeing a slow and steady increase but it's moderate. It's moderate because of all the actions you have taken in terms of physical distancing."
-Gov. Gavin Newsom
"There's no light switch here. I would argue it's more like a dimmer. … This is an imperfect science. There is no playbook that someone else has put together."
-Gov. Gavin Newsom
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Both states hope to ramp up testing, contact tracing, and hospital capacity, but even when society reopens, things won’t look the same. In short, Americans may not get the normalcy they are seeking until we have herd immunity, which is when the majority of people have had the virus and can't catch it again, or a vaccine, which is potentially 12-18 months out. And there’s fear we could see a resurgence at any point, especially in the fall. If that happens on the West Coast, East Coast or anywhere in between, local leaders will likely look to the example set by California on how to contain novel coronavirus.
While both governors have started planning for a post-pandemic society, the fight is far from over.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” warned Gov. Newsom, even as the number of new cases plateaued in California.
"I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart,” said Gov. Cuomo. “I believe we can start on the path to normalcy.”
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
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Cases: 213,779
Cases: 24,424