July 31, (THEWILL) – New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, has declared a disaster emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus, calling the city “the epicenter” of the outbreak.
The virus was declared an imminent threat to public health by the New York State Commissioner of Health, Ashwin Vasan.
But Hochul, in a tweet, said the Emergency Order will activate a swift response and allow health care professionals to take additional steps that will help get more New Yorkers vaccinated against the outbreak.
Her tweet reads: “I am declaring a State Disaster Emergency to strengthen our ongoing efforts to confront the monkeypox outbreak.
“This Executive Order enables us to respond more swiftly and allows health care professionals to take additional steps that will help get more New Yorkers vaccinated.
“More than one in four monkeypox cases in this country are in New York, currently having a disproportionate impact on at-risk groups.
“We are working around the clock to secure more vaccines, expand testing capacity, and educate New Yorkers on how to stay safe.”
As of Friday, New York state had a total of 1,383 confirmed orthopoxvirus/monkeypox cases, according to the New York Department of Health’s website.
Mayor Eric Adams and health Commissioner Vasan said as many as 150,000 city residents could be at risk of infection.
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