Cuomo Outlines State's Ebola Plan

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said eight hospitals around the state have been identified as Ebola treatment centers, and personnel at all 200 of the state’s hospitals will be trained on how to respond if a person with Ebola walks into their emergency room.

In addition, emergency responders will rehearse various scenarios, including what to do if someone gets sick on the subway or in an airport, and how to get the patient to the hospital without infecting anybody else. Schools and colleges will also be informed of how to handle a possible Ebola outbreak.

Cuomo said there’s no reason to panic.  

“There’s a semi-hysteria about it, which is understandable,” Cuomo said. “But it’s not backed up by the numbers or the probability or the facts that we have at this time.”

But Cuomo said he would not be “surprised” if a Ebola case was confirmed in New York.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says it’s more important than ever that New Yorkers get their flu shots this year, so if they develop a fever or other symptoms, healthcare workers who are assessing for ebola symptoms can rule out the flu.

Cuomo's opponent in the governor's race, Republican candidate Rob Astorino, has called on the governor to ban all flights from West Africa. Cuomo said only the President or federal authorities could do that.