Sorry, Governor Cuomo… I think we’ll stick with store-bought hand sanitizer.
The New York governor has announced that in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the state’s prisoners will be making their own “superior” hand sanitizer.
What could go wrong?
In his statements, Cuomo accused stores and manufacturing companies of price gouging hand sanitizer.
Perhaps someone should remind the governor about supply and demand.
More details on the eye-popping update below:
The hand sanitizer created by the state's prisoners will be made of 75 percent alcohol, Cuomo claimed.
As of this writing, New York has 142 cases of coronavirus, one of the highest concentrations of the virus in the country.
On Saturday, Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York.
Breitbart was one of the first outlets to break this story:
New York state announced Monday that it is using prison labor to produce its own hand sanitizer product in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“We are introducing New York State clean hand sanitizer, made conveniently by the state of New York,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said in a press conference. Cuomo claimed that the sanitizer is superior to others because it contains 75 percent alcohol.
“To Purell, and Mr. Amazon and Mr. eBay, if you continue the price gouging, we will introduce our product, which is superior to your product,” said Cuomo. “And you don’t even have the floral bouquet, so stop price gouging.”
Corcraft Products, operated by New York’s Department of Correctional Services, Division of Industries, is manufacturing the product and expects to pump out 100,000 gallons weekly.
The supplier’s mission, according to its website, is to “employ inmates in substantive jobs that help teach a good work ethic and valuable work skills, to help offset the cost of incarceration, to help reduce disruption in the prison environment and to meet expectations of New York State’s citizens.”
While hand sanitizer certainly helps, the best method against infection is washing your hands!
Doctors and medical professionals recommend soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
It is still proven to be the most effective way at avoiding the coronavirus, aside from avoiding contact with someone who has already caught it.
Cuomo claims the state will produce 100,000 gallons of "superior" hand sanitizer made by prisoners.
It will be called New York State Clean.
Rather than focusing on the benefits of the NYS Clean sanitizer, Cuomo spent much of the press conference talking about the scent.
Newsweek has more details on Cuomo's description of the different sanitizer scents that will be available.
"We are introducing New York State Clean hand sanitizer made conveniently by the state of New York," Cuomo said Monday. "This is a superior product to products now on the market. The World Health Organization, the CDC, all those people suggest 60 percent alcohol content. Purell, a competitor to New York State Clean, has 70 percent. This has 75 percent alcohol. It also comes in a variety of sizes and has a very nice floral bouquet [scent]."
The governor then pretended to be advertising an infomercial product as he put some of the NYS Clean product on his skin. He told reporters, "I detect a little hydrangea, lilac, tulips, floral bouquet.... Corcraft makes glass cleaner, floor cleaner, degreasers, laundry detergent, vehicle fluids, hand cleaner, and now they make hand sanitizer with alcohol."
Corcraft Products, which is spearheading the manufacturing of the product for the state, already makes dozens of different products for government distribution. Prison inmates are assisting in the new hand sanitizer's production. Cuomo said that it costs $6 per gallon to make the sanitizer, which is being produced at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County.
Cuomo also confirmed that Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Cotton oversaw containment efforts at John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the key entry points for international arrivals, some of whom might be infected with the coronavirus illness.
Cuomo said the state and Corcraft Products now have an output capacity of 100,000 gallons a week but will be "ramping up production" of the sanitizer statewide. Cuomo said the Metropolitan Transit Authority, public schools and every government agency will receive the product.
The hand sanitizer being produced by prisoners will be provided to government agencies, schools, the MTA, and other prisons.
It is being reported that state prisoners will be paid as little as $0.16 per hour to make the hand sanitizer.
Online, many users are critical of the optics of using prison labor to "produce" hand sanitizer.
It will undoubtedly be cheaper than other products on the market.
But will it truly be "superior" as the governor claims?
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