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N.Y. Virus Deaths Double in Three Days to Almost 3,000: Live Updates N.Y. Virus Deaths Double in Three Days to Almost 3,000: Live Updates
(32 minutes later)
The coronavirus is taking lives at a devastating pace in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said, with deaths nearly doubling in just three days, from 1,550 on Tuesday to 2,935 on Friday.The coronavirus is taking lives at a devastating pace in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said, with deaths nearly doubling in just three days, from 1,550 on Tuesday to 2,935 on Friday.
More people in New York were reported to have died of the virus in the last 24 hours — 562 — than in the first 27 days of March.More people in New York were reported to have died of the virus in the last 24 hours — 562 — than in the first 27 days of March.
“It’s hard to go through this all day, and then it’s hard to stay up all night, watching those numbers come in and the number of deaths tick up,” the governor said at his daily briefing in Albany.“It’s hard to go through this all day, and then it’s hard to stay up all night, watching those numbers come in and the number of deaths tick up,” the governor said at his daily briefing in Albany.
New York now accounts for about 45 percent of the nation’s total of virus deaths.
On Friday, for the first time, the state recorded more than 10,000 positive tests for the virus in one day: There are now 102,863 confirmed cases in New York State, up from 92,381 on Thursday. New York City has 57,159 cases — nearly a quarter of the confirmed cases in the whole country.On Friday, for the first time, the state recorded more than 10,000 positive tests for the virus in one day: There are now 102,863 confirmed cases in New York State, up from 92,381 on Thursday. New York City has 57,159 cases — nearly a quarter of the confirmed cases in the whole country.
The number of cases in the state has almost doubled since last Friday. The number of people hospitalized and the number of patients on ventilators have both more than doubled since then.The number of cases in the state has almost doubled since last Friday. The number of people hospitalized and the number of patients on ventilators have both more than doubled since then.
With hospitals still in dire need of medical equipment, including ventilators, Mr. Cuomo said he was signing an executive order authorizing the state to seize and redistribute ventilators, masks and other supplies from hospitals and private-sector companies that did not immediately need them. With hospitals still in dire need of medical equipment, including ventilators, Mr. Cuomo said he was signing an executive order authorizing the state to seize and redistribute equipment and supplies from hospitals and private-sector companies that did not immediately need them.
“I’m not going to let people die because we didn’t redistribute ventilators,” he said.“I’m not going to let people die because we didn’t redistribute ventilators,” he said.
He said that any equipment commandeered would be returned after the crisis. When a reporter asked whether private hospitals might raise legal objections to the seizures, Mr. Cuomo answered, “If they want to sue me for borrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, let them sue me.” He said that any equipment commandeered would be returned after the crisis. When a reporter asked whether private hospitals might raise legal objections, Mr. Cuomo answered, “If they want to sue me for borrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, let them sue me.”
Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman who represents the state’s 21st district, a rural region that borders Vermont, said on Twitter that she was “very concerned” about the order. Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman who represents a rural district that borders Vermont, said on Twitter that she was “very concerned” about the order.
“I represent demographically the largest number of seniors of any District in New York,” she said. “This is the most vulnerable age group facing COVID-19 and needs to be considered.” “I represent demographically the largest number of seniors of any District in New York,” she wrote. “This is the most vulnerable age group facing Covid-19 and needs to be considered.”
Searching for a bright spot amid the grim news, Mr. Cuomo said that emergency hospital admissions unrelated to Covid-19 have fallen because the virus, and the restrictions associated with it, have caused traffic and crime to drop sharply. This has made the crisis slightly less overwhelming for the health care system than it would be otherwise. Searching for a bright spot, Mr. Cuomo said that emergency hospital admissions unrelated to Covid-19 have fallen because the virus, and the restrictions associated with it, have caused traffic and crime to drop sharply. This has made the crisis slightly less overwhelming for the health care system.
“You don’t have the same crime rate, so you don’t have the same number of trauma cases coming into the hospital,” he said.“You don’t have the same crime rate, so you don’t have the same number of trauma cases coming into the hospital,” he said.
Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey announced 4,372 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the state’s total to 29,895. There were 113 new deaths reported, for a total of 646.Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey announced 4,372 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the state’s total to 29,895. There were 113 new deaths reported, for a total of 646.
Governor Murphy said he had ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff across the state “effective immediately and indefinitely to honor those we have lost and those we will lose.” Mr. Murphy ordered flags lowered to half-staff across the state “effective immediately and indefinitely to honor those we have lost and those we will lose.”
The governor cited the deaths of James Brown, the 48-year-old principal of the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, and jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, who was born in Paterson, N.J., and died in Saddle River, N.J. At a time when people are unable to gather for funerals, Mr. Murphy said, he sought to “find some ways to acknowledge the totality of this loss.”
There are 3,016 people hospitalized with the coronavirus in New Jersey, and 1,227 of them are on ventilators, said Judith Persichilli, the state’s commissioner of health. He cited the deaths of James Brown, the 48-year-old principal of the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, and jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, 94, who was born in Paterson, N.J., and died in Saddle River, N.J.
The decision to lower the flags was made in part to commemorate the dead at a time when people are unable to gather for funerals, Governor Murphy said, and to “find some ways to acknowledge the totality of this loss.” There are 3,016 people hospitalized with the coronavirus in New Jersey, 1,227 of them on ventilators, officials said.
He added: “We must have a constant and visible memorial of the tremendous personal toll Covid-19 is having on our communities.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio called Thursday night for doctors and other medical workers across the country to be drafted and sent to the places where coronavirus has hit hardest — starting in New York.Mayor Bill de Blasio called Thursday night for doctors and other medical workers across the country to be drafted and sent to the places where coronavirus has hit hardest — starting in New York.
“Unless there is a national effort to enlist doctors, nurses, hospital workers of all kinds and get them where they are needed most in the country in time,” Mr. de Blasio said on MSNBC Friday morning. “I don’t see, honestly, how we’re going to have the professionals we need to get through this crisis.”“Unless there is a national effort to enlist doctors, nurses, hospital workers of all kinds and get them where they are needed most in the country in time,” Mr. de Blasio said on MSNBC Friday morning. “I don’t see, honestly, how we’re going to have the professionals we need to get through this crisis.”
New York City is the center of the outbreak in the United States. Nearly 50,000 people have tested positive, and 1,500 have died in the city, more than 1,000 of them in the past week alone. The city’s emergency medical system is overwhelmed.
Mr. de Blasio has been asking for days for military medical personnel to be sent to New York but had not sought a draft of civilian doctors before.Mr. de Blasio has been asking for days for military medical personnel to be sent to New York but had not sought a draft of civilian doctors before.
Mr. de Blasio repeated his warning that this coming Sunday is a crucial day in the fight against the virus — “D-Day,” he again called it on CNN Friday morning. He said that if critical supplies do not arrive soon, hundreds, and then thousands, will die.
After an outcry over the slow pace of patient transfers to the hospital ship U.S.N.S. Comfort in New York, the Navy announced Friday that it would streamline its screening process.After an outcry over the slow pace of patient transfers to the hospital ship U.S.N.S. Comfort in New York, the Navy announced Friday that it would streamline its screening process.
The 1,000-bed ship arrived Monday to treat patients who do not have the coronavirus, in order to free up space in onshore hospitals. But by Thursday evening, it had taken on only 20 patients.The 1,000-bed ship arrived Monday to treat patients who do not have the coronavirus, in order to free up space in onshore hospitals. But by Thursday evening, it had taken on only 20 patients.
Going forward, patients will be evaluated at the Comfort’s dock on Manhattan’s West Side, rather than at city hospitals, the Navy said in a statement.Going forward, patients will be evaluated at the Comfort’s dock on Manhattan’s West Side, rather than at city hospitals, the Navy said in a statement.
And patients will no longer have to test negative for the coronavirus before being admitted to the ship, but will fill out a short medical questionnaire and have their temperatures taken.And patients will no longer have to test negative for the coronavirus before being admitted to the ship, but will fill out a short medical questionnaire and have their temperatures taken.
A spokeswoman for the Navy said an updated patient census for Friday was not yet available.A spokeswoman for the Navy said an updated patient census for Friday was not yet available.
On Thursday evening, Governor Cuomo announced that the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, another alternative hospital site run by the military, would begin taking coronavirus patients, a reversal of its initial policy.On Thursday evening, Governor Cuomo announced that the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, another alternative hospital site run by the military, would begin taking coronavirus patients, a reversal of its initial policy.
As of Thursday, four more people living in New York City shelters and one man who lived on the street had been killed by the coronavirus, bringing the number of homeless people to die from the virus in the city to 10. The county executive of Rockland County, N.Y., called on Governor Cuomo on Thursday to establish a containment zone around part of a town that has seen a rampant spread of the virus.
Before Thursday, the deaths had been concentrated among older men living in dormitory-style shelters. But two of the most recently reported deaths were people who had been living in city shelters that are home to families. The executive, Ed Day, seeks the designation for the eastern part of the town of Ramapo, according to The Journal News.
The rate of deaths and infection among homeless people has been relatively low. But social distancing in group shelters has presented a challenge. The city is paying for about 500 private hotel rooms in an effort to isolate people who are showing symptoms of the coronavirus, have been exposed to others who tested positive or have tested positive themselves. Rockland County, northwest of New York City, has seen a higher concentration of virus cases than any place in the state besides neighboring Westchester County. It has reported 3,751 coronavirus cases, or about 1 per 88 residents — far higher than the rate in New York City — and 42 deaths.
As of Thursday, 168 total people from shelters, from the street and from unstable housing situations had tested positive, and 299 people were in isolation at four hotels. Mr. Day offered few details on what “containment zone” would mean, but said that rules on social distancing at stores and at funerals needed to be strictly enforced.
In a Friday interview, Steven Banks, the city’s commissioner of social services, said his agency would expand the use of hotel rooms and would rent more as needed. Mr. Cuomo, who created a “containment area” in the small city of New Rochelle before statewide stay-home orders were put in place, has not publicly responded to Mr. Day’s request, but on Thursday left open the possibility of imposing curfews if municipalities seek them.
Advocates for homeless and low-income people are asking that the city open more hotel rooms so that people can better isolate. “Every homeless New Yorker in a congregate setting or those living on the street should be afforded the same opportunity to self-distance,” said Paulette Soltani, political director of VOCAL-NY, an advocacy organization, who called for 3,000 more hotel rooms to be made available. “Depends on what their problem is, what their situation is and what they’re trying to solve — and we’d have to talk through it,” he said, “I’d have to understand what the theory of their action is.”
One out of every six New York City police officers is out sick or in quarantine. A veteran detective and seven civilian workers have died from the disease caused by the coronavirus. And two chiefs and the deputy commissioner in charge of counterterrorism are among more than 1,500 others in the department who have been infected. The area where Mr. Day seeks restrictions includes the ultra-orthodox Jewish enclaves of Monsey, where a funeral this week drew a large crowd, and New Square. One Jewish leader told The Journal News the proposed zone targeted the Jewish community.
With weeks to go before the epidemic is expected to peak, the virus has already strained the Police Department at a time when its 36,000 officers have been asked to help slow its spread by enforcing emergency rules. As of Thursday, four more people living in city shelters and one man who lived on the street had died of the coronavirus, bringing the number of in the city to 10.
The epidemic has also added a new level of risk and anxiety to police work, even as reports of most serious crimes have dropped steeply since the city imposed the new rules. Every arrest or interview now carries the potential for infection, officers say. Until Thursday, the deaths had been concentrated among older men living in dormitory-style shelters for single adults. But two of the most recently reported deaths were people who had been living in shelters for families.
“It’s a stressful job at the best of times,” the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, said on Tuesday. “Right now, I don’t think you can imagine a worse point of time.” The rate of deaths and infection among homeless people has been relatively low. But social distancing in group shelters has presented a challenge. The city is paying for about 500 private hotel rooms in an effort to isolate people who have symptoms of the virus, have been exposed to others who tested positive, or have tested positive themselves.
As of Thursday, 168 total people from shelters, from the street and from unstable housing situations had tested positive.
Steven Banks, the city’s commissioner of social services, said on Friday that his agency would rent more hotel rooms as needed.
Advocates for homeless and low-income people are asking that the city open more hotel rooms so that people can better isolate. “Every homeless New Yorker in a congregate setting or those living on the street should be afforded the same opportunity to self-distance,” said Paulette Soltani, political director of VOCAL-NY, an advocacy organization, who called for 30,000 more hotel rooms to be made available.
A few days after losing his job in March, Paul Gentile was throwing away trash outside his Brooklyn apartment building when he noticed a sign hanging near the front door.A few days after losing his job in March, Paul Gentile was throwing away trash outside his Brooklyn apartment building when he noticed a sign hanging near the front door.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought life to a near standstill in New York City and caused an untold number of people to lose their jobs, tenants in the building did not need to pay April rent, it read.Because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought life to a near standstill in New York City and caused an untold number of people to lose their jobs, tenants in the building did not need to pay April rent, it read.
“STAY SAFE, HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS & WASH YOUR HANDS!!!” the landlord, Mario Salerno, had written on the signs, which he posted at all of his 18 residential buildings in the borough.“STAY SAFE, HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS & WASH YOUR HANDS!!!” the landlord, Mario Salerno, had written on the signs, which he posted at all of his 18 residential buildings in the borough.
The sudden collapse of the economy has left many New Yorkers stressing about how they can pay their bills, especially rent. The sudden collapse of the economy has left many New Yorkers unable to pay bills, especially rent, and some landlords have started to panic.
Landlords in the city have started to panic as well, as it has become clear some tenants are unable to afford rent. But Mr. Salerno said on Thursday that he did not care about losing his rental income in April, nor did he care to calculate the amount that he would not be collecting from his 80 apartments.
But Mr. Salerno said in an interview on Thursday that he did not care about losing his rental income in April, nor did he care to calculate the amount that he would not be collecting from his 80 apartments. “My concern is everyone’s health,” said Mr. Salerno, 59, whose gesture was first reported by the local news site Greenpointers.com. “I told them just to look out for your neighbor and make sure that everyone has food on their table.”
“My concern is everyone’s health,” said Mr. Salerno, 59, whose rent gesture was first reported by the local news site Greenpointers.com. “I told them just to look out for your neighbor and make sure that everyone has food on their table.” More than 800,000 residents the New York region, including New Jersey and Connecticut, have applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks as the coronavirus pandemic has brought the economy to a virtual standstill.
As The New York Times follows the spread of the coronavirus across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we need your help. We want to talk to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency services workers, nursing home managers — anyone who can share what they are seeing in the region’s hospitals and other health care centers. Even if you haven’t seen anything yet, we want to connect now so we can stay in touch in the future. If you are an employer or a worker who is unemployed, go here to share your story. A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.
A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent. Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Maria Cramer, Michael Gold, Matthew Haag, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Matt Stevens, Nikita Stewart and Michael Schwirtz.
Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Maria Cramer, Michael Gold, Matthew Haag, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Ashley Southall, Matt Stevens and Michael Schwirtz.