ALBANY, N.Y. — A coalition of Manhattan lawmakers are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency as monkeypox infections continue to rise.
A state and local declaration of emergency would help facilitate disaster response efforts by cutting red tape and speeding up the distribution of testing, treatment and vaccines, the group argued Friday.
The request comes a day after State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett deemed the virus an “imminent threat to public health” in the Empire State as cases soared past 1,200 in the city.
