Cuomo To Call For Testing On International Flights If U.S. Won't

LONG ISLAND, NY — Calling the U.K. strain of the coronavirus a potential and problematic "game changer," one day after the first case was confirmed in Saratoga Springs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo again called out for testing of all international travelers before they land in the United States.

And if the federal government can't act, he said, New York will. With the new strain believed to be up to 70 percent more transmissible, Cuomo said the numbers are frightening.

With multiple countries testing the virus, none have found it more deadly than the initial strain of the coronavirus or resistant to the vaccine. However, because it is more highly transmissible, it could send more people to the hospital, exacerbating capacity limits.

"We are in a foot race between vaccine implementation versus the infection and hospital capacity," Cuomo said. "This U.K. strain changes the whole foot race. The infection rate is way up."

The new strain is believed to be able to overtake the original coronavirus strain in a few weeks, he said.

The federal government needs to take action and demand mandatory testing of everyone flying into the country, Cuomo said. "Not a ban. Just testing all international travelers before entry. We have to say, 'We are not going to let you in until you take a test,'" he said. "The USA must act and if the US won't act, then New York State will," Cuomo said. "To make New York a petri dish and the federal government does nothing? I can't allow that to happen."