. @NYGovCuomo will hold a press conference shortly. Follow along below in this thread.

The governor is joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci this morning.

"He was the singular voice as a medical professional who offered guidance and facts and clarity for people all through this country worldwide."

A look at the statewide numbers.

Hospitalization rates in New York state.

This graph is deceiving — #Chautauqua and #Cattaraugus counties are in WESTERN NEW YORK and not the Southern Tier, even hough the label appears over the two counties.

Cuomo is now publicly sharing the "New York State Model" for handling the virus and shutdowns with Dr. Fauci.

"If anything, I've been accused of being overly communicative. The more facts that people know the better."

NEW: Today, the #NYSDOH will issue an order calling for hospitals to increase bed capacity by 25%. Nurse and doctor retirees will also be asked to return to service — those professionals will be registered by the state without cost.

Cuomo notes that the CDC issued additional guidance on indoor dining on Friday — if after five days the regional hospitalization rate has not stabilized, indoor dining in:

Regions in rest of NYS (not orange zones) will go from 50% to 25% capacity.

Western New York's infection rate is 7.34%.

That is lower than 41 states.

Cuomo asks Fauci if holiday spread will continue and when a peak of infections will be seen —

Fauci, calls New York's plan "interesting" and praised the "backup contingencies." New York will not be "caught shorthanded."

He says peaks will be "superimposed" upon each other.

Fauci says that Thanksgiving spread will not be seen until another week-and-a-half or so, butting up against Christmas/Hanukah.

"If that happens and we don't mitigate well and we don't listen to the public health measures we follow ... middle of January will be bad."

The questions for Dr. Fauci. He says that the no more than 10 people at a gathering guidance is "sound."

Fauci says that "by the time you get to the beginning of April, you'll get to people with no high priority" vaccinated with a "full-court press" between April, May and June that summer 2021 and into the start of the 3rd quarter of 2021, "We should be in good shape."

Cuomo asks about schools — "It's almost a universal statement that the school is the safest place to be in the community."

Fauci agrees.

"We're not seeing an influenza like spread in schools."

He advocates for a "close the bars, keep the schools open" type position.

Cuomo agrees with that sentiment but emphasizes that "bars and restaurants need financial help" from Congress. He has advocated for this.

Fauci says that New York state "got hit with a sucker punch" due to the European cases that came in.

"The bad news is that you guys got slammed, but then you rebounded and rebounded in a way that you kept your positivity low because you did the prudent thing you needed to do."

Cuomo says he and Fauci are the "modern day DeNiro and Pacino" suggesting they could film an advertisement advocating for awareness of living room spread.

Cuomo asks Fauci what "comfort food" he wants for Christmas.

He responds, "A nice Nathan hot dog and a really steaming pastrami sandwich" reminiscent of his growing up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.

"Send the bill to @ChrisCuomo."