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FEMA Declares New York a ‘Major Disaster’: Live Updates FEMA Declares New York a ‘Major Disaster’: Live Updates
(32 minutes later)
The Trump administration has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state, meaning more federal aid is coming to New York as cases of coronavirus show no sign of abating.The Trump administration has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state, meaning more federal aid is coming to New York as cases of coronavirus show no sign of abating.
As of Saturday morning, more than 8,300 New York state residents had tested positive for the virus. As of Saturday morning, more than 8,300 New York state residents had tested positive for the virus. With 6 percent of the U.S. population, the state now accounts for nearly half of the 18,000 cases in the country tallied by The New York Times.
The designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency gives New York access to billions of dollars in aid from the Disaster Relief Fund.The designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency gives New York access to billions of dollars in aid from the Disaster Relief Fund.
State officials and doctors have been sounding the alarm about an impending shortage of supplies, hospital beds and ventilators as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continue to climb.State officials and doctors have been sounding the alarm about an impending shortage of supplies, hospital beds and ventilators as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continue to climb.
On Friday night, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York announced that the Trump administration had issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state, which now has the most coronavirus cases in the nation.On Friday night, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York announced that the Trump administration had issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the state, which now has the most coronavirus cases in the nation.
“It’s imperative that the federal government does everything within its power to support New York in the state effort to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus,” said Mr. Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, in a statement.“It’s imperative that the federal government does everything within its power to support New York in the state effort to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus,” said Mr. Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, in a statement.
“There is no compromise when it comes to the health and lives of New Yorkers,” he continued, “and I’m glad the administration recognized that and approved the nation’s first Major Disaster Declaration in response to the coronavirus, right here in New York.”“There is no compromise when it comes to the health and lives of New Yorkers,” he continued, “and I’m glad the administration recognized that and approved the nation’s first Major Disaster Declaration in response to the coronavirus, right here in New York.”
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday issued a sweeping decree meant to compel New Yorkers to stay indoors as much as possible, ordering all nonessential businesses to keep their workers home.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday issued a sweeping decree meant to compel New Yorkers to stay indoors as much as possible, ordering all nonessential businesses to keep their workers home.
New York State, with 6 percent of the U.S. population, now accounts for nearly half of the 18,000 cases in the country tallied by The New York Times. Later on Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut issued an order similar to Mr. Cuomo’s, and Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said he planned to issue an order on Saturday that all nonessential businesses in that state shut down as well.
Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut issued an order similar to Mr. Cuomo’s on Friday, and Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said he planned to issue an order on Saturday that all nonessential businesses in that state shut down as well.
Late Friday, officials reported 5,683 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City and 43 deaths. Earlier in the day, officials had put the number of cases at 5,151 and the number of deaths at 29.Late Friday, officials reported 5,683 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City and 43 deaths. Earlier in the day, officials had put the number of cases at 5,151 and the number of deaths at 29.
As of late Friday, there were 736 confirmed cases in the Bronx (compared with 667 earlier in the day); 1,740 in Brooklyn (1,518); 1,402 in Manhattan (1,314); 1,514 in Queens (1,406); and 285 on Staten Island (242). Six cases were not linked to a specific borough.As of late Friday, there were 736 confirmed cases in the Bronx (compared with 667 earlier in the day); 1,740 in Brooklyn (1,518); 1,402 in Manhattan (1,314); 1,514 in Queens (1,406); and 285 on Staten Island (242). Six cases were not linked to a specific borough.
For weeks, as the coronavirus has spread across the globe, New York officials have warned that a surge of cases could overwhelm the state’s health care system, jeopardizing thousands of patients.
Now, it seems, the surge has arrived.
In a startlingly quick ascent, New York officials said Friday that the state had passed 8,000 positive tests, nearly half of the cases in the United States. The number was more than 10 times higher than what was reported earlier in the week.
The sharp increase is thrusting the medical system toward a crisis point, officials said.
Friday night, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York State stood at 8,377, according to the most recent data from the city and state — a jump of more than 2,700 from Thursday.Friday night, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York State stood at 8,377, according to the most recent data from the city and state — a jump of more than 2,700 from Thursday.
The state performed 10,000 tests overnight from Thursday to Friday, bringing the total number of people tested in the state to more than 32,000, officials said. As of Friday morning, around 1,250 people — 18 percent of cases reported by that point — were hospitalized, the governor said.The state performed 10,000 tests overnight from Thursday to Friday, bringing the total number of people tested in the state to more than 32,000, officials said. As of Friday morning, around 1,250 people — 18 percent of cases reported by that point — were hospitalized, the governor said.
Mr. Cuomo said New York was now testing more people per capita than China or South Korea.Mr. Cuomo said New York was now testing more people per capita than China or South Korea.
Mr. Murphy said on Friday that 890 people in New Jersey had tested positive for the virus and that 11 had died, up from nine on Thursday. In Connecticut, officials reported 35 new confirmed cases on Friday, bringing the state’s total to 194. Four Connecticut residents have died of the virus.Mr. Murphy said on Friday that 890 people in New Jersey had tested positive for the virus and that 11 had died, up from nine on Thursday. In Connecticut, officials reported 35 new confirmed cases on Friday, bringing the state’s total to 194. Four Connecticut residents have died of the virus.
For weeks, as the coronavirus has spread across the globe, New York officials have warned that a surge of cases could overwhelm the state’s health care system, jeopardizing thousands of patients.
Now, it seems, the surge has arrived.
In a startlingly quick ascent, New York officials said Friday that the state had passed 8,000 positive tests, nearly half of the cases in the United States. The number was more than 10 times higher than what was reported earlier in the week.
The sharp increase is thrusting the medical system toward a crisis point, officials said.
In the Bronx, doctors at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center said they had only a few remaining ventilators. In Brooklyn, doctors at Kings County Hospital Center said they were so low on supplies that they were reusing masks for up to a week, slathering them with hand sanitizer between shifts.
Some of the jump in New York’s cases can be traced to ramped-up testing, which the state began this week. But the escalation, and the response, could offer other states a glimpse of what might be in store if the virus continues to spread. Governor Cuomo on Friday urged residents to stay indoors and ordered nonessential businesses to keep workers home.
As it prepares for the worst-case projections, the state is asking retired health care workers to volunteer to help. The city is considering trying to turn the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, the largest convention center in the country, into a makeshift hospital.
All local and select bus services in New York City will effectively be free starting on Monday as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the subway and buses, works to keep its operations going while also protecting employees.
The authority is asking riders to begin boarding buses through the rear door, which will allow for more space between riders and drivers at the front of buses, the agency said in a statement.
The changes do not apply to authority’s express bus lines. Riders must still those buses from the front and pay, although they will not be allowed in the first three rows of seats.
“Rear-door boarding will help ensure a safe social distance,” said Sarah Feinberg, New York City Transit’s interim president. “The safety of our employees and customers is Priority One.”
Reporting was contributed by Edgar Sandoval, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, Joseph Goldstein, Matthew Haag, Jeffery C. Mays, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Michael Paulson, Brian Rosenthal, Ed Shanahan, Liam Stack, Tracey Tully and Neil Vigdor.Reporting was contributed by Edgar Sandoval, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, Joseph Goldstein, Matthew Haag, Jeffery C. Mays, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Michael Paulson, Brian Rosenthal, Ed Shanahan, Liam Stack, Tracey Tully and Neil Vigdor.