Albany, N.Y. — Covid fatigue is real, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.
“It has caused significant anxiety among many people," Cuomo said during a press conference in Albany. “I’m telling you, we have a serious problem of the emotional stress and anxiety that Covid has caused and the longer it goes on, the worse it is getting.”
Early on, adrenaline helped people function through the stress of the statewide shutdown, Cuomo said. But that has long since worn off.
What’s left is emotional damage. It’s enough that Cuomo said he thinks psychiatrists will one day be talking about post-traumatic stress related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is worrisome to me,” Cuomo said. "Not as a governor, just as a person.
“I’m just telling you as a member of society, I have friends that I’m worried about.”
The state is trying to increase mental health services to respond to what’s happening.
While the stress of the virus is understandable, New Yorkers can’t let fatigue weaken their compliance with rules on mask wearing and social distancing, Cuomo said.
“The virus isn’t fatigued,” he said. “Until the battle is over, you can’t take a nap.”
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