'111 Days Of Hell': Cuomo Gives Last Coronavirus Briefing

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Whether they were supporters who said Gov. Andrew Cuomo was the voice of calm and reason during the 111 days when the coronavirus pandemic put lives in jeopardy and shuttered businesses, or detractors who voiced opposition to his decisions, New Yorkers had mixed emotions Friday as Cuomo delivered his last daily coronavirus briefing.

One thing most would agree upon was that love him or hate him, Cuomo's briefings were a constant.

And on Friday, Cuomo came out to address the public for the last time alone, without the staff that sat by his side during the scores of daily talks.

"After 111 days of hell, they deserve a break," Cuomo sad. "We all do."

The governor began with the good news: Across New York, a total of 1,284 are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the lowest number that the state has seen. On Thursday, a record number of coronavirus tests, 79,000, were administered. The lowest weekly infection rate, less than 1 percent, was recorded this week — and the average weekly number of deaths, 25, is the lowest it has been, Cuomo said.

All regions of the state have low infection rates and after reviewing the data, New York City will begin phase 2 of reopening Monday, he said.

"But COVID isn't over," Cuomo said. "We still have much more to do."

Looking forward, he said, there is still a need to monitor local infection rates and local governments must ensure compliance and do contact tracing, he said.

"We have to watch out for a second wave of possible infections coming from other states, and many people need help to get their lives back to normal — but with all of that, it's clear: Over the past three months, we have done the impossible," Cuomo said.

In the beginning, he said, "the virus hit us hard." New York had more cases per capita than any state in the country or nation.

"But today, we have done a full 180, from worst to first," Cuomo said. "We are controlling this virus better than any state in the country and any nation on the globe."

Through social distancing and other measures, more than 100,000 were saved from hospitalization and possibly, death, Cuomo said. "Just think about that. It is an unimaginable achievement. I'm so incredibly proud of what we all did together and as a community. We reopened the economy and saved lives. Because it was never a choice between one or the other. It was always right to do both."

Today, he added, the virus is spreading in many places across the country. "More people will die and it doesn't have to be that way," he said. "Forget the politics, be smart. Open the economy intelligently and save lives at the same time. That what we showed worked, in New York."

Cuomo thanked the health care workers, essential workers, colleagues in nearby states, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "And, most of all, the great people of New York State who rose to the occasion, who joined hands and did what they had to do."

The governor also thanked his team in state government, his three daughters and the public.

"Thank you to all the people who sent me letters and Tweets, and who waved on the street or gave me a thumb's up," he said. "I can't express how much it means to me; your energy keeps me going and your smile lightens my soul — and I thank you. The the 59 million viewers who shared in these daily briefings, thank you. Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt. Thank you for believing in me and giving me support; good Lord knows, I needed it."

'I'm not going anywhere'

And for those who fear they may be lost without Cuomo's briefings, the governor had a message: "I'm not going anywhere. I will still do what we do. We just don't have to do it every day. And that's a good thing. Let's hope it stays that way."

The 111 days, Cuomo said, have been incredibly hard. "I thought about it every day as climbing a mountain, the Mt. Everest of social challenges. We had 42 days up the mountain and 69 days down the other side. Every day hurt, and was hard. It was frightening and sad, but I really believe we will be the better for it. I believe we are."

Not only his daughters but he, too, learned from the experience, Cuomo said.

"A few weeks ago, I had been thinking that I was disappointed that we didn't get to unveil our new state seal." In April, Cuomo announced the new seal, with the words, "E pluribus unum," or "We are one."

The seal was created "because we thought the country needed to remember, at this time of division, that Americans are one, that we are united. But then I realized, in many ways, we did something better. We didn't just put the words on our state seal. We made the words come true. We made the words come to life. In this crisis, we were united."

And, he asked: "Why did it take a crisis to bring us together? Why does government usually appeal to the worst in us, rather than the best? Why do politics play to our fears and weaknesses, rather than appeal to our strengths? Why doesn't government challenge us to reach higher and speak to our better angels? Why can't it motivate us by love, rather than hate?"

That is what the coronavirus taught New Yorkers, Cuomo said.

"That the only way forward is if I protect you, and you protect me. I wear a mask for you, and you wear a mask for me. If you care for me — and I care for you. We showed that in the end, love does win. Love does conquer all. No matter how dark the day, love brings the light. That is what I will take from the past 111 days."

He said the lesson energizes and excites. "If we could accomplish together what we did here, this impossible task of beating back this deadly virus, then there is nothing that we can't do. And we will be better and we will be stronger, for what we have gone through."

Next, Cuomo said, New York needs to lead the way in police reform, reenergizing the economy, protecting the environment, and welcoming a new era of civil rights and social justice.

"I know that we can," he said. "We learned that our better angels are stronger than our demons and sometimes, we just need to listen for them. Over the past 111 days, we heard them and it was beautiful. Let's keep listening — together."

Cuomo's last briefing ended with a video with his voice explaining that he led the coronavirus fight with facts, trying "every way we can, to save every life."

He urged, in the days ahead, that New Yorkers "stay the course. We all have to stay responsible. We are New York tough. I love New York because New York loves you, all of you. Black and white and brown and Asian, short and tall and gay and straight. New York loves everyone that's why I love New York. And at the end of the day, my friends, even if it is a long day, and this is a long day — love wins. Always."