This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/nyregion/coronavirus-new-york-update.html

The article has changed 48 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
White House Tells Travelers From New York to Isolate: Live Updates White House Tells Travelers From New York to Isolate: Live Updates
(about 2 hours later)
With New York emerging as the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus’s spread, White House officials on Tuesday focused on the crisis in the city and state amid their efforts to contain the virus from spreading widely elsewhere.With New York emerging as the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus’s spread, White House officials on Tuesday focused on the crisis in the city and state amid their efforts to contain the virus from spreading widely elsewhere.
Speaking at a White House briefing, officials said that anyone who recently left New York should self-quarantine at home for 14 days to prevent the virus from infecting those in other regions.Speaking at a White House briefing, officials said that anyone who recently left New York should self-quarantine at home for 14 days to prevent the virus from infecting those in other regions.
“We’re starting to see new cases across Long Island that suggest people have left the city,” the coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, said at the briefing. “We’re starting to see new cases across Long Island that suggest people have left the city,” the White House coronavirus coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, said at the briefing.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that New Yorkers who were “understandably” trying to leave for places like Florida needed to make sure they were not “seeding” the rest of the United States.Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that New Yorkers who were “understandably” trying to leave for places like Florida needed to make sure they were not “seeding” the rest of the United States.
“When they go to another place, for their own safety, they have to be careful,” Dr. Fauci said.“When they go to another place, for their own safety, they have to be careful,” Dr. Fauci said.
Vice President Mike Pence repeated the advice, calling New York City a “high-risk” area and asking New Yorkers to avoid nonessential travel.Vice President Mike Pence repeated the advice, calling New York City a “high-risk” area and asking New Yorkers to avoid nonessential travel.
Coronavirus is accelerating its spread in New York, with potentially disastrous consequences, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a briefing on Tuesday in which he criticized the federal government’s response as woefully insufficient.Coronavirus is accelerating its spread in New York, with potentially disastrous consequences, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a briefing on Tuesday in which he criticized the federal government’s response as woefully insufficient.
The case count is doubling every three days, and the peak of infection in New York could come as soon as two to three weeks, Mr. Cuomo said, outrunning earlier projections and threatening to put even greater strain on the health care system than officials had feared.The case count is doubling every three days, and the peak of infection in New York could come as soon as two to three weeks, Mr. Cuomo said, outrunning earlier projections and threatening to put even greater strain on the health care system than officials had feared.
“We haven’t flattened the curve. And the curve is actually increasing,” Mr. Cuomo said. “The apex is higher than we thought, and the apex is sooner than we thought. That is a bad combination of facts.”“We haven’t flattened the curve. And the curve is actually increasing,” Mr. Cuomo said. “The apex is higher than we thought, and the apex is sooner than we thought. That is a bad combination of facts.”
Mr. Cuomo, who last week adopted a friendlier tone toward President Trump, chastised the federal government, which has so far sent 400 ventilators to New York City.Mr. Cuomo, who last week adopted a friendlier tone toward President Trump, chastised the federal government, which has so far sent 400 ventilators to New York City.
“You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators,” Mr. Cuomo said. “What are we going to do with 400 ventilators when we need 30,000 ventilators? You’re missing the magnitude of the problem, and the problem is defined by the magnitude.”“You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators,” Mr. Cuomo said. “What are we going to do with 400 ventilators when we need 30,000 ventilators? You’re missing the magnitude of the problem, and the problem is defined by the magnitude.”
Mr. Cuomo’s briefings have become must-see television as his handling of the crisis wins him a national following.Mr. Cuomo’s briefings have become must-see television as his handling of the crisis wins him a national following.
Shortly after Mr. Cuomo’s comments, Vice President Mike Pence said on Fox News that the federal government had shipped 2,000 ventilators to New York on Tuesday and would send 2,000 more on Wednesday.Shortly after Mr. Cuomo’s comments, Vice President Mike Pence said on Fox News that the federal government had shipped 2,000 ventilators to New York on Tuesday and would send 2,000 more on Wednesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said later that half those ventilators would be sent to New York City.Mayor Bill de Blasio said later that half those ventilators would be sent to New York City.
Mr. Cuomo, speaking at the Javits Center in Manhattan, a convention complex that the Army Corps of Engineers is turning into a 1,000-bed emergency hospital, said that the state now projects a need of up to 140,000 hospital beds to house virus patients, up from the 110,000 projected a few days ago. As of now, only 53,000 are available.Mr. Cuomo, speaking at the Javits Center in Manhattan, a convention complex that the Army Corps of Engineers is turning into a 1,000-bed emergency hospital, said that the state now projects a need of up to 140,000 hospital beds to house virus patients, up from the 110,000 projected a few days ago. As of now, only 53,000 are available.
Up to 40,000 intensive-care beds could be needed.Up to 40,000 intensive-care beds could be needed.
“Those are troubling and astronomical numbers,” Mr. Cuomo said.“Those are troubling and astronomical numbers,” Mr. Cuomo said.
Mr. Cuomo said that New York was a harbinger for the rest of the United States.Mr. Cuomo said that New York was a harbinger for the rest of the United States.
“Look at us today,” he warned. “Where we are today, you will be in four weeks or five weeks or six weeks. We are your future.”“Look at us today,” he warned. “Where we are today, you will be in four weeks or five weeks or six weeks. We are your future.”
The governor also floated the idea of gradually letting young people and those who had recovered from the coronavirus return to the work force.The governor also floated the idea of gradually letting young people and those who had recovered from the coronavirus return to the work force.
But when he was asked at the briefing about conservative commentators who have suggested that some human lives could be sacrificed in the service of restarting the economy, Mr. Cuomo bristled. “We’re not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable,” he said.But when he was asked at the briefing about conservative commentators who have suggested that some human lives could be sacrificed in the service of restarting the economy, Mr. Cuomo bristled. “We’re not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable,” he said.
Other highlights from the governor’s briefing:Other highlights from the governor’s briefing:
As of Tuesday morning, New York State had 25,665 cases, with 210 deaths. The state now accounts for nearly 7 percent of global cases tallied by The New York Times.As of Tuesday morning, New York State had 25,665 cases, with 210 deaths. The state now accounts for nearly 7 percent of global cases tallied by The New York Times.
The state has so far procured 7,000 of the 30,000 ventilators it needs, which are in shortage as states compete with one another to buy them.The state has so far procured 7,000 of the 30,000 ventilators it needs, which are in shortage as states compete with one another to buy them.
New York has tested more than 91,000 people — by far the most of any state, Mr. Cuomo said.New York has tested more than 91,000 people — by far the most of any state, Mr. Cuomo said.
New York City has had 14,904 confirmed cases. New York City had 15,597 confirmed cases and 192 deaths as of Tuesday night, according to city officials.
More than 3,200 people were hospitalized and 750 of those patients, or 23 percent, were in intensive care. More than 3,200 people in the state were hospitalized and 750 of those patients, or 23 percent, were in intensive care.
The number of people in New Jersey who have died in connection with the coronavirus jumped sharply on Tuesday, with 17 new deaths reported by Gov. Philip D. Murphy. Measures adopted to stop the spread of the coronavirus in New York appear to have put a dent in crime, New York City’s police commissioner said on Tuesday.
So far, 44 people have died in the state; nine of the deaths were associated with long-term care facilities. But the commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, also expressed concern about the persistence of violent crimes like robberies and shootings. And he specifically said he was troubled by a “dramatic” decline in reports of sexual assaults and domestic violence.
“This is by far our largest single-day report of new deaths,” Mr. Murphy said. “We saw an immediate drop in most categories in crime,” Commissioner Shea said at a news briefing, when asked how the new restrictions on businesses had affected public safety.
So far, 3,675 people in New Jersey have tested positive for the virus, with 846 new cases reported on Tuesday afternoon. The state has the second-highest number of cases in the nation. Compared with the previous week, the police recorded 443 fewer serious crimes, like assault and burglary, in the week that ended on Sunday, a 24.5 percent decline. Officers also made 1,538 fewer arrests last week compared with the week before.
Mr. Murphy noted that officials had expected the numbers to rise as the state’s testing capacity increased. Last week, detectives received just 25 new complaints that met the federal threshold for rape, compared with 51 the week before. The number of other sex crimes reported fell to 62 last week, compared with 102 on March 15.
“We have been aggressive, particularly of late, in our testing regime,” he said. “Maybe I’m just glass half empty here,” Commissioner Shea said, “but I can’t imagine that the crimes aren’t happening. I’m sure that there’s many crimes happening.”
To combat the outbreak, four federal field hospitals are being set up at the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, the Atlantic City Convention Center, and an urban search-and-rescue facility at a site that has yet to be determined. Mr. de Blasio noted a surge in bias attacks aimed at the city’s Asian residents, and he urged the victims of such crimes to contact the police right away.
Mr. Murphy also said the federal government was sending New Jersey 200,000 N95 masks and 84,000 respirators from the federal stockpile. As crime ebbed, more Police Department employees became infected. As of Tuesday, Commissioner Shea said, 211 department members had tested positive for the virus, including 177 uniformed officers.
Two of the city’s biggest police unions say the department is failing to inform officers when someone they have worked with has tested positive.
The Police Benevolent Association, which represents rank-and-file officers, has instructed members to log sick time or time spent in quarantine related to the virus on line-of-duty injury forms, while the Sergeants Benevolent Association has assigned its delegates to monitor commands for reports of new cases and exposures.
In the video, Mr. Springsteen discusses the needs of health care workers and of those in New Jersey who have been infected. Ms. Goldberg urges viewers to recognize that anyone can get sick. Danny DeVito gives a shout-out to Asbury Park, where he grew up, and lists famous New Jersey musicians who can help entertain those sheltering indoors. And Jon Stewart emphasizes the importance of social distancing. The goal, an official said, was to avoid something similar to what occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when many officers who worked to clean the wreckage at the World Trade Center site did not have records of the time they spent there.
“I hope everyone is staying safe, staying inside, washing your hands a lot, self-distancing,” Mr. Stewart says. “It’s very similar to how my life normally is, actually is.”
As the coronavirus engulfs New York, the city’s public transportation network is slashing service at least 25 percent as ridership plummets and an increasing number of sick workers hobbles the ability to run the system normally.As the coronavirus engulfs New York, the city’s public transportation network is slashing service at least 25 percent as ridership plummets and an increasing number of sick workers hobbles the ability to run the system normally.
The decision on Tuesday to cut service on the nation’s largest transportation network came after subway ridership plunged a staggering 87 percent, or nearly 4.8 million riders, compared with the same day last year. Personnel shortages forced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees subway, buses and two commuter rails, to temporarily eliminate service on three subway lines: the B, W and Z.The decision on Tuesday to cut service on the nation’s largest transportation network came after subway ridership plunged a staggering 87 percent, or nearly 4.8 million riders, compared with the same day last year. Personnel shortages forced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees subway, buses and two commuter rails, to temporarily eliminate service on three subway lines: the B, W and Z.
So far, 52 M.T.A. workers have tested positive for the virus, officials said.So far, 52 M.T.A. workers have tested positive for the virus, officials said.
New York City’s transportation system typically carries eight million riders each weekday. But the sudden and steep drops in ridership have severely strained the authority’s operating budget, about half of which comes from fares and tolls.New York City’s transportation system typically carries eight million riders each weekday. But the sudden and steep drops in ridership have severely strained the authority’s operating budget, about half of which comes from fares and tolls.
At the end of last week, compared with the same period last year’s, ridership had dropped 70 percent on buses; 94 percent on the Metro-North Railroad, which serves communities north of New York City; and 71 percent on the Long Island Rail Road, officials said.At the end of last week, compared with the same period last year’s, ridership had dropped 70 percent on buses; 94 percent on the Metro-North Railroad, which serves communities north of New York City; and 71 percent on the Long Island Rail Road, officials said.
The reduction in service allows the M.T.A. to lower operating costs and help stave off what it has called a “financial calamity.”The reduction in service allows the M.T.A. to lower operating costs and help stave off what it has called a “financial calamity.”
But health professionals have raised concerns that running fewer trains will lead to more crowding on the trains that are running, increasing the risk that passengers, many of whom are essential workers like doctors and nurses, are exposed to the virus during their commute.But health professionals have raised concerns that running fewer trains will lead to more crowding on the trains that are running, increasing the risk that passengers, many of whom are essential workers like doctors and nurses, are exposed to the virus during their commute.
At a news briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City took a few moments to note the death of a friend, the Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, who died on Tuesday at 81 of coronavirus complications.At a news briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City took a few moments to note the death of a friend, the Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, who died on Tuesday at 81 of coronavirus complications.
“We’ve lost a great New Yorker, one of the really most renowned members of our cultural community,” Mr. de Blasio said of Mr. McNally, who was known for dramatizing gay life for mainstream audiences. The mayor said that Mr. McNally “epitomizes so much about the city.”“We’ve lost a great New Yorker, one of the really most renowned members of our cultural community,” Mr. de Blasio said of Mr. McNally, who was known for dramatizing gay life for mainstream audiences. The mayor said that Mr. McNally “epitomizes so much about the city.”
Mr. de Blasio said he knew Mr. McNally well because one of his college roommates, Tom Kirdahy, was the playwright’s husband.Mr. de Blasio said he knew Mr. McNally well because one of his college roommates, Tom Kirdahy, was the playwright’s husband.
The remembrance of Mr. McNally came as Mr. de Blasio echoed Mr. Cuomo’s call for the federal government to provide more equipment, including ventilators, to the virus-ravaged state and city.The remembrance of Mr. McNally came as Mr. de Blasio echoed Mr. Cuomo’s call for the federal government to provide more equipment, including ventilators, to the virus-ravaged state and city.
So far, 131 people in the city have died of the virus, Mr. de Blasio said. So far, 192 people in the city had died of the virus, officials said later on Tuesday.
With the governor concerned about the number of New Yorkers gathering at city parks and playgrounds, Mr. de Blasio said officials would give residents until Saturday night to show they could practice social distancing appropriately.With the governor concerned about the number of New Yorkers gathering at city parks and playgrounds, Mr. de Blasio said officials would give residents until Saturday night to show they could practice social distancing appropriately.
If the city was not satisfied, he was prepared to shut down parks and playgrounds “for the foreseeable future,” Mr. de Blasio said on Tuesday. If the city was not satisfied, he was prepared to shut down parks and playgrounds “for the foreseeable future,” Mr. de Blasio said on Tuesday, though he noted that, broadly speaking, city residents were adhering to restrictions on crowd sizes.
To reduce gatherings, the mayor said, the city was considering closing “up to two” streets in each borough to vehicles as a way to provide more public space and reduce crowding.To reduce gatherings, the mayor said, the city was considering closing “up to two” streets in each borough to vehicles as a way to provide more public space and reduce crowding.
The mayor also said that alternate-side parking rules would be suspended for another week, through Tuesday, May 31. The mayor also said that alternate-side parking rules would be suspended for another week, through Tuesday, May 31..
Still, the mayor dismissed concerns that city residents were ignoring social-distancing rules. He said that the New York Police Department had begun patrolling and had found “broad adherence” to state guidelines banning gatherings and meant to keep people at home.
The city is also moving to immediately release approximately 300 inmates being held at the Rikers Island jail complex who have been convicted of misdemeanors and some nonviolent crimes, Mr. de Blasio said. All of them have less than one year left on their sentences, he said.The city is also moving to immediately release approximately 300 inmates being held at the Rikers Island jail complex who have been convicted of misdemeanors and some nonviolent crimes, Mr. de Blasio said. All of them have less than one year left on their sentences, he said.
The de Blasio administration is also working with state officials and the city’s district attorneys on the potential release of about 100 people who awaiting trial in city jails, and around 700 people who were in jail on parole violations, the mayor said.The de Blasio administration is also working with state officials and the city’s district attorneys on the potential release of about 100 people who awaiting trial in city jails, and around 700 people who were in jail on parole violations, the mayor said.
In a city famous for neighbors who mind their own business, people are increasingly knocking on doors and offering to help those who are quarantined, either because they are ill or because they might be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Christina Caron, Michael Crowley, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, Christina Goldbaum, Nicole Hong, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Brian M. Rosenthal, Ashley Southall, Nikita Stewart, Tracey Tully and Katie Van Syckle.
But as New York becomes the epicenter of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, the danger of spreading infection has added a note of tension to what might otherwise be simple acts of generosity.
As offers of help proliferate, elected officials and others are warning that such selflessness could put vulnerable people at greater risk.
“There’s no doubt that New Yorkers want to help their neighbors,” said Carlos Menchaca, a Democratic councilman from Brooklyn, who is asking volunteers to wait for guidance from medical experts. “But before we self-activate, we need to pause and put together guidelines that allow us to do it in a safe way.”
Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Christina Caron, Michael Crowley, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, Christina Goldbaum, Nicole Hong, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Brian M. Rosenthal, Nikita Stewart, Tracey Tully and Katie Van Syckle.