New York’s jailbirds are helping to combat the coronavirus.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday unveiled what he called the state’s weapon against despicable price-gougers taking advantage of coronavirus fears — a new hand sanitizer produced by New York prison inmates.
Cuomo said the “superior product” is not only cheaper than brands made by greedy commercial businesses but will be readily available to New York governments, the MTA, schools and even the prisons where it’s being made.
“It’s much cheaper for us to make it ourselves than to buy it on the open market,” said Cuomo, adding that a gallon jug of the state-produced product costs $6 to make.
It has a “floral bouquet,” the governor added.
Corcraft, the state Corrections Department’s manufacturing service fueled by inmate workers, is manufacturing the sanitizer, Cuomo said.
He said that while the CDC recommends products with 60 percent alcohol and private manufacturers such as Purell contain 70 percent, New York’s version is 75 percent.
He said the state will be churning out 100,000 gallons a week and will ramp up production as needed.
