New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday lashed out at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for being caught “flat-footed” on testing for the coronavirus.
In an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Cuomo said the CDC effectively “handcuffed the states” in testing.
“Probably the single most important thing we can do now is testing,” Cuomo said. “It hasn't been done well. I believe the CDC was caught flat-footed. We knew this was coming, we were watching China.. CDC was not ready when it started."
“CDC handcuffed the states,” he added.
“I needed their approval to do my own testing. We have very sophisticated labs in this state. They didn't approve the New York labs to test for a period of time.”
Cuomo said compounding the problems were mixed messages from the administration.
“Worse than the virus right now is the fear pandemic,” he said. “People are afraid. They don't know who to believe. They're not trusting their government. They're getting different messages. The fear is more dangerous than the virus.”
He added that “we can't say to people in this country or this state anyone who wants a test can have a test. It's just not true.”
“That's what causes the panic and fear and you are off to the races. But we did here in New York, we have a protocol. I can't test everyone. We will prioritize testing.”
Cuomo also slammed Department of Homeland Security's ban on New Yorkers from the protected traveler programs over New York's refusal to turn over the motor vehicle information of illegal immigrants to the Customs and Border Patrol.
“They're holding the trusted traveler program hostage … because they want me to turn over to Customs and Border Patrol undocumented people," he said, noting the same information is available to the FBI.
“It's leverage. It's extortion. It's wrong,” Cuomo declared.
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