Cuomo Thinks The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Last 9 Months

Gov. Andrew Cuomo told New Yorkers to plan for the coronavirus pandemic to last up to nine months.

Five days ago, Cuomo said health experts predicted the COVID-19 pandemic likely won't peak in New York for another 45 days.

On Sunday, he offered a timeline for how long he thinks we will be dealing with coronavirus.

"It is going to be four months, six months, nine months," Cuomo said during a press conference. "You look at China, once they really changed the trajectory which we have not done yet, eight months, we're in that range. Nobody has a crystal ball. Nobody can tell you. I've spoken to more people on this issue than 99 percent of the people in this country. No one can tell you. Not from the superb Dr. Fauci to the World Health Organization to the National Institute of Health, but it is in that range so start to plan accordingly."

On Saturday, Cuomo said to expect at least 40 percent of the population to be infected.

"At the end of the day, 40 to 80 percent of the population is going to get infected," Cuomo said. "If you look at the 40 to 80 percent, that means between 7.8 million and 15 million New Yorkers will be affected at the end of the day. We're just trying to postpone the end of the day. Again, perspective, Johns Hopkins, this is not a science fiction movie. You don't have to wait to the end of the movie to find out what happens."

Cuomo added, no matter how long this pandemic lasts, we will overcome this.

"I do believe that whatever this is 4 months, 6 months, 9 months - we are going to be the better for it," he said. "America is America because we overcome adversity and challenges. That's how we were born. That's what we've done all our life. We overcome challenges and this is a period of challenge for this generation. And that's what has always made America great and that's what going to make this generation great. I believe that to the bottom of my soul. We will overcome this and America will be the greater for it."