New York will postpone its April presidential primary until June 24, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Saturday, buying time for the state to administer an election as it struggles to respond to the escalating coronavirus outbreak.
“I don’t think it’s wise to be bringing a lot of people to one location to vote, a lot of people touching one doorknob, a lot of people touching one pen, ”Mr. Cuomo said in a news conference. “So we are going to delay that and link it to an election that was previously scheduled on June 23. ”
A primary for state legislative and congressional races had already been set for June 24, and now all of the state’s primary elections will be held on the same date, he said.
Ten other states, as well as Puerto Rico, have rescheduled their primary elections as the campaign calendar has been upended by the outbreak, citing guidance from health officials who have urged people to avoid gathering spots, including polling places. A handful of other states have switched to voting entirely by mail and have extended deadlines for doing so.
Under rules set by the Democratic National Committee, the state risks forfeiting some delegates at the national convention for voting so late in the party’s nomination cycle.
Several other states have shifted their primaries to June 2, which has suddenly become a significant date on the Democratic primary calendar. It falls just before a June 9 deadline for voting set by the D.N.C.
In the past week, it had become apparent that holding New York’s primary as scheduled would be difficult. County elections officials throughout New York had been pressing for a delay, pointing to logistical difficulties tied to the state’s growing coronavirus crisis.
Noting that entry to many traditional polling places had been restricted and that elections employees and volunteers throughout the state had been ordered to remain home, the bipartisan organization representing elections officials in all 401 counties argued that the pandemic had rendered it dangerous to carry out the routine of preparing for an election – visiting polling sites, testing machines and printing ballots.
“Elections board around the state are risking personnel safety and health to prepare for impending elections on April 28, ”The Elections Commissions’ Association of the State of New York said in a news release last Tuesday.
Some influential Democrats in New Yo rk had privately expressed hope that the election could be avoided all together, pointing out that a decision by Senator Bernie Sanders to withdraw would remove the need for a costly and logistically difficult primary vote.
State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs, citing former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s substantial lead in the delegate count, questioned whether Mr. Sanders should continue his campaign absent a legitimate chance for the nomination. “There’s nothing to be gained by keeping the contest going if there’s no reasonable path,” Mr. Jacobs said.
The state’s Republican primary – which would also would have been held on April – had been called off in March after President Trump, the presumptive nominee, was the only candidate who qualified to appear on the ballot.
Had the Democratic primary been canceled, the duty of selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention would have been left up to the party’s state committee.
The State Board of Elections had explored the possibility of holding New York’s primary entirely by mail, but the board’s staff arrived that county elections offices were not geared up to process huge volumes of mail-in ballots.
Updated March 26, 01575879
It seems to spread very easily from person to person, especially in homes , hospitals and other confined spaces. The pathogen can be carried on tiny respiratory droplets that fall as they are coughed or sneezed out. It may also be transmitted when we touch a contaminated surface and then touch our face.
No. The first testing in humans of an experimental vaccine began in mid-March. Such rapid development of a potential vaccine is unprecedented, but even if it is proven safe and effective, it probably will not be available for to (months.)
Unlike the flu, there is no known treatment or vaccine, and little is known about this particular virus so far. It seems to be more lethal than the flu, but the numbers are still uncertain. And it hits the elderly and those with underlying conditions – not just those with respiratory diseases – particularly hard.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the CDC recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance – because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance – you won’t be able to get tested.
If the family member does not need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, According to guidelines issued by the CDC
If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. Make sure not to share any dishes or other household items and to regularly clean surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently.
Experts are divided on how much protection a regular surgical mask, or even a scarf, can provide for people who aren’t yet sick. The W.H.O. and C.D.C. Say that unless you’re already sick, or caring for someone who is, wearing a face mask isn’t necessary. And stockpiling high-grade N 401 masks will make it harder for nurses and other workers to access the resources they need. But researchers are also finding that there are more cases of asymptomatic transmission than were known early on in the pandemic. And a few experts say that masks could offer some protection in crowded places where it is not possible to stay 6 feet away from other people. Masks don’t replace hand-washing and social distancing.
Plan two weeks of meals if possible. But people should not hoard food or supplies. Despite the empty shelves, the supply chain remains strong. And Remember to wipe the handle of the grocery cart with a disinfecting wipe and wash your hands as soon as you get home.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
That’s not a good idea. Even if you’re retired, having a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds so that your money keeps up with inflation, or even grows, makes sense. But retirees may want to think about having enough cash set aside for a year’s worth of living expenses and big payments needed over the next five years.
Watching your balance go up and down can be scary. You may be wondering if you should decrease your contributions – don’t! If your employer matches any part of your contributions, make sure you’re at least saving as much as you can to get that “free money.”
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