(Bloomberg) -- New York will start contracting directly with private labs to increase testing for the new coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing.
The state's health department works with about 28 labs that are expert in this type of work, Cuomo said.
Cuomo said he told the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the state would be contracting with private labs, and federal officials “assented.” Though federal officials still will need to approve some of the protocols, allowing these labs to test will “greatly” increase the state's testing rate, he said.
New York's cases increased to 212 from 173 on Tuesday, with 13 new ones in the cluster of Westchester County and 12 in New York City. There have been no reported deaths.
Cuomo said that just 32 patients are hospitalized, while most are recovering at home.
City University of New York and the State University of New York will move to “distance learning” on March 19. Campuses won't be totally closed, and some labs and dorms may remain open, the governor said.
“There will be no evictions,” he said.
The state also will double cleaning on mass-transit equipment amid conflicting reports over how long the virus lives on materials such as stainless steel, he said.
Officials will decide today whether to go ahead with the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Cuomo said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, Stacie Sherman, Stephen Merelman
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