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New York Appears to Be ‘Past the Plateau,’ Cuomo Says: Live Updates New York Appears to Be ‘Past the Plateau,’ Cuomo Says: Live Updates
(about 2 hours later)
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo arrived to his daily coronavirus briefing in Albany on Saturday with cautionary good news: New York continued to make progress in its battle with a virus that has killed more than 13,000 residents, enough people to populate an upstate small city. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo arrived to his daily coronavirus briefing in Albany, N.Y., on Saturday with cautionary good news: The state has continued to make progress in its battle with a virus that has killed more than 13,000 residents, enough people to populate an upstate small city.
“If you look at the past three days, you could argue we are past the plateau and starting to descend,” Mr. Cuomo said. “So we’re not at the plateau anymore, but we’re still not in a good position.” “If you look at the past three days, you could argue we are past the plateau and starting to descend,” Mr. Cuomo said. “So, we’re not at the plateau anymore, but we’re still not in a good position.”
Cuomo announced the state’s daily death toll from the virus had fallen to 540, down from 630 a day earlier. It was the lowest daily number in more than two weeks. Mr. Cuomo announced the state’s daily death toll from the virus had fallen to 540, down from 630 a day earlier. It was the lowest daily number in more than two weeks.
Still, he warned the health crisis was far from over. Yesterday alone, about 2,000 people were admitted to city hospitals with Covid-19 symptoms, similar to the numbers hospitals were seeing as the pandemic began to peak in late March. Still, he warned that the health crisis was far from over. On Friday alone, about 2,000 people were admitted to city hospitals with Covid-19 symptoms, a number similar to what hospitals were seeing as the pandemic began to peak in late March.
“If it wasn’t for the relative context we’ve been in, this would be devastating news,” Mr. Cuomo said.“If it wasn’t for the relative context we’ve been in, this would be devastating news,” Mr. Cuomo said.
The number of people needing ventilators to breathe also decreased, “which is very good news,” the governor said.The number of people needing ventilators to breathe also decreased, “which is very good news,” the governor said.
“Doctors will tell you that the emergency rooms have fewer people in them,” Mr. Cuomo said. “They were at max capacity for a long time.”“Doctors will tell you that the emergency rooms have fewer people in them,” Mr. Cuomo said. “They were at max capacity for a long time.”
The death toll included 504 people who had died in city hospitals and 36 in nursing homes, which have recently come under scrutiny for not offering transparency to government officials and families of victims. They have struggled with testing and a lack of staffing. The death toll included 504 people who had died in city hospitals and 36 others in nursing homes, which have come under scrutiny for not offering transparency to government officials and families of victims. The homes have struggled with testing and a lack of staffing.
“Nursing homes are the single biggest fear in all of this,” the governor said. “Vulnerable people in one place — it is the feeding frenzy for this virus, despite everything we can do and the best efforts of people working in those nursing homes,” the governor said. “Nursing homes are the single biggest fear in all of this,” the governor said. “Vulnerable people in one place — it is the feeding frenzy for this virus, despite everything we can do and the best efforts of people working in those nursing homes.”
A noticeably subdued Mr. Cuomo shied away from conflict with Mr. Trump a day after the two leaders traded barbs over federal aid for the state. Mr. Cuomo underscored the need to work with the Trump administration to implement the widespread testing necessary to reopen the state’s economy. Noticeably subdued, Mr. Cuomo on Saturday shied away from conflict with President Trump a day after the two leaders traded barbs over federal aid for the state. The governor underscored the need to work with the Trump administration to implement the widespread testing necessary to reopen New York’s economy.
“In the midst of this, there is no time for politics,” Mr. Cuomo said. “How does this situation get worse and get worse quickly? If you politicize all that emotion. We cannot go there.”“In the midst of this, there is no time for politics,” Mr. Cuomo said. “How does this situation get worse and get worse quickly? If you politicize all that emotion. We cannot go there.”
“I’m not asking the federal government to do more than they need to,” he added. “But we do need their coordination, we need their partnership.” He added: “I’m not asking the federal government to do more than they need to. But we do need their coordination. We need their partnership.”
Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said on Saturday that an additional 231 people had died of the coronavirus, pushing the state’s total to 4,070. More than 40 percent of those deaths have been at long-term care facilities.
Judith Persichilli, commissioner for the state’s Department of Health, said there had been 1,655 virus-related deaths in the facilities, which have struggled to combat the virus because of a lack of staffing, testing and protective equipment.
Ms. Persichilli said that surveyors from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid had completed their review of the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in Andover, N.J., where 17 bodies were found inside a small morgue intended to hold no more than four people.
The owner has been issued numerous citations and has been asked to come up with a correction plan, she said.
The number of total coronavirus cases in New Jersey rose to over 81,420, with 3,026 new cases reported on Saturday. But Mr. Murphy said a three-week review of the statistics showed there has been a plateau in some metrics.
The numbers of new cases and hospitalizations were leveling off, and the number of people in intensive care or critical condition had remained stable, he said.
“We are flattening the curve,” Mr. Murphy said.
Among the dead mentioned by the governor — a ritual he has included in his daily briefings — were Alex Ruperto, a 52-year-old Union City police detective from Glen Ridge; Herbert Heaney, who worked as a forensic scientist with the New Jersey State Police; and Richard Campbell, the Edison fire captain.
From surgeon-quality personal protection to the home-stitched square and the bandit’s bandanna, New Yorkers pulled on a newly essential accessory and ventured into a landscape that changed yet again on Friday with the mandated wearing of masks in public.From surgeon-quality personal protection to the home-stitched square and the bandit’s bandanna, New Yorkers pulled on a newly essential accessory and ventured into a landscape that changed yet again on Friday with the mandated wearing of masks in public.
The new rule, which took effect at 8 p.m. Friday night, would be striking anywhere, but more so in New York City, where teeming crowds and if-I-can-make-it-there chutzpah are baked into the national imagination. The new rule, which took effect at 8 p.m. Friday, would be striking anywhere, but more so in New York City, where teeming crowds and if-I-can-make-it-there chutzpah are baked into the national imagination.
“This is just the next step,” said a retired corrections officer, Stanley Woo, 63, sitting down to play chess in a park in Forest Hills, Queens, with his old friends and his new mask.“This is just the next step,” said a retired corrections officer, Stanley Woo, 63, sitting down to play chess in a park in Forest Hills, Queens, with his old friends and his new mask.
“Nobody likes it, but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” said Amanda Neville, 43, inside her wine store, Tipsy, in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.“Nobody likes it, but we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” said Amanda Neville, 43, inside her wine store, Tipsy, in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
The measure was intended to further flatten the curve of new coronavirus infections in New York, which has had more than 12,000 deaths because of the virus and more than 200,000 confirmed cases. The measure was intended to further flatten the curve of new coronavirus infections in New York, which has had more than 13,300 deaths because of the virus and more than 236,000 confirmed cases.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo offered some encouraging signs on that effort at his daily briefing on Friday: the three-day average number of hospitalized virus patients, considered one of the most reliable measures of the fight against the virus, dropped for the third straight day, by its biggest margin yet — almost 3 percent. Governor Cuomo said on Saturday at his daily briefing that he was following his own guidelines. On Friday night, he said, he began wearing a face mask when taking his dog, Captain for a stroll.
Still, the number of virus patients newly admitted to hospitals had remained high, at nearly 2,000 per day, and the governor announced 630 new deaths in the state. “When I am in public and I’m walking the dog on the street and I cannot main social distancing, I am wearing a mask,” Mr. Cuomo told reporters. “I think this is a small inconvenience that has a tremendous benefit for people.”
Mr. Cuomo said the state’s economy could not fully reopen without more widespread testing, which would require both supplies and an operational capacity that the health system does not currently have. Captain, a Siberian-shepherd mix, “doesn’t wear a mask,” he said, because he “is not violating anything.”
“We cannot do it without federal help,” the governor said.
New York is not the only state to make face coverings mandatory: Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are requiring that masks be worn in stores; likewise in Los Angeles and some surrounding California counties. New York’s order is the most expansive, requiring face coverings anywhere in the state where two people might come within two yards of each other, though for now there is no fine for disobeying.New York is not the only state to make face coverings mandatory: Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are requiring that masks be worn in stores; likewise in Los Angeles and some surrounding California counties. New York’s order is the most expansive, requiring face coverings anywhere in the state where two people might come within two yards of each other, though for now there is no fine for disobeying.
New York City’s abrupt switch to remote learning last month created myriad challenges for the nation’s largest school system. One of the thorniest issues was how to take attendance for 1.1 million public school students who were suddenly at home.New York City’s abrupt switch to remote learning last month created myriad challenges for the nation’s largest school system. One of the thorniest issues was how to take attendance for 1.1 million public school students who were suddenly at home.
On Friday, the Department of Education provided initial data indicating that most students are still interacting with school in some way: About 84 percent of students signed on in some way during the first week of April. Average daily attendance before the coronavirus pandemic was around 92 percent. On Friday, the Department of Education provided initial data indicating that most students were still interacting with school: About 84 percent of students signed on in some way during the first week of April. Average daily attendance before the coronavirus pandemic was around 92 percent.
Each of the city’s 1,800 schools have created their own attendance plans, meaning that being marked “present” could include participating at live instruction at one school, and answering a brief question every morning at another school. Attendance during remote learning was higher for younger children, who are typically supervised by parents during the day, and lower for high school students.Each of the city’s 1,800 schools have created their own attendance plans, meaning that being marked “present” could include participating at live instruction at one school, and answering a brief question every morning at another school. Attendance during remote learning was higher for younger children, who are typically supervised by parents during the day, and lower for high school students.
About 20 percent of city schools, including some large high schools, have not yet reported their attendance data. The city will release attendance weekly.About 20 percent of city schools, including some large high schools, have not yet reported their attendance data. The city will release attendance weekly.
Over the past four weeks, about 22 million workers filed jobless claims, including about 1.2 million New Yorkers.Over the past four weeks, about 22 million workers filed jobless claims, including about 1.2 million New Yorkers.
Unemployment systems, some of which rely on an antiquated computer programming language, were not built for such a rush of claimants. They also were not built for a new class of workers — independent contractors and the self-employed — who are now eligible for assistance during the pandemic.Unemployment systems, some of which rely on an antiquated computer programming language, were not built for such a rush of claimants. They also were not built for a new class of workers — independent contractors and the self-employed — who are now eligible for assistance during the pandemic.
In New York, the results have been maddening. Many people have had their online applications crash before they could hit submit, requiring them to start from scratch.In New York, the results have been maddening. Many people have had their online applications crash before they could hit submit, requiring them to start from scratch.
They have endured hourslong wait times only to get randomly disconnected, or be connected with representatives who say they cannot fix their issues.They have endured hourslong wait times only to get randomly disconnected, or be connected with representatives who say they cannot fix their issues.
Carly Keohane, who lost her waitressing job in Rochester, N.Y., has been waiting a month to receive $2,124 in unemployment payments as a direct deposit into her bank account.Carly Keohane, who lost her waitressing job in Rochester, N.Y., has been waiting a month to receive $2,124 in unemployment payments as a direct deposit into her bank account.
But the state instead told her that the money had been deposited on a state-issued debit card, which she never received. Ms. Keohane, 31, said she could not get anyone on the phone to find out where it is.But the state instead told her that the money had been deposited on a state-issued debit card, which she never received. Ms. Keohane, 31, said she could not get anyone on the phone to find out where it is.
Speaking on Thursday, the secretary to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, said the state had been staggering under the weight of the claims for unemployment insurance. Speaking on Thursday, the secretary to Governor Cuomo, Melissa DeRosa, said the state had been staggering under the weight of the claims for unemployment insurance.
“We are going to continue doing everything we can to bring the system up to deal with this scale,” she said.“We are going to continue doing everything we can to bring the system up to deal with this scale,” she said.
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’s happening 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.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’s happening 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.
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 Melina Delkic, Matthew Haag, Edgar Sandoval, Eliza Shapiro and Michael Wilson. Reporting was contributed by Maria Cramer, Melina Delkic, Matthew Haag, Edgar Sandoval, Eliza Shapiro and Michael Wilson.