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Coronavirus in N.Y.: Live Updates N.Y. Preparing Public Transit as More Regions Reopen: Live Updates
(about 3 hours later)
New York had fewer than 100 new deaths of the coronavirus for the first time since late March, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Saturday. With the Mid-Hudson and Long Island regions poised to start reopening this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced new public transit safety measures on Sunday in an effort to ensure public health as those areas emerge from lockdown.
The governor reported 84 deaths during his daily briefing in Albany, the lowest reported daily death toll since March 24. Long Island Rail Road trains will add more cars to create more space for travelers, who will be required to wear face masks while riding, the governor said.
While Mr. Cuomo called the number of new casualties “a tragedy, no doubt,” he said that it also felt like a milestone as the state slowly returns to normalcy. “They’re going to add more cars to the trains so people can space out and socially distance when Long Island opens,” Mr. Cuomo said Sunday during his daily briefing at Jones Beach on Long Island.
“In my head, I was always looking to get under 100,” he said. “For me, it’s just a sign that we are making real progress.” The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is running some 700 trains along the Long Island Rail Road under its coronavirus-era reduced service plan. In anticipation of a gradual reopening of Nassau and Suffolk counties, the M.T.A. is planning to add up to 105 train cars to its current capacity, an increase of roughly 15 percent, said an agency spokeswoman, Abbey Collins.
The state’s Mid-Hudson region, which includes Westchester, will reopen on Tuesday, provided an additional 857 contact tracers can be trained over the holiday weekend, Mr. Cuomo said. If daily deaths continue to decline in Long Island, it could be the next region to begin to reopen, possibly by Wednesday, the governor said. It will also store extra train cars in 15 yards across the system, in case additional cars need to be quickly deployed.
Extending a privilege already granted to religious and Memorial Day gatherings, Mr. Cuomo signed an order late Friday authorizing all gatherings of up to 10 people anywhere in the state, provided social distancing was maintained. The M.T.A. is expected to announce capacity enhancements for Metro-North Railroad riders this week, too, Ms. Collins said. The Metro-North Railroad serves much of the Mid-Hudson region, which is set to begin reopening on Tuesday.
The New York Civil Liberty Union had filed a lawsuit challenging an earlier order that allowed religious and Memorial Day gatherings, but Mr. Cuomo said on Saturday that he was unaware of the suit. Among the other announcements from Mr. Cuomo’s briefing:
“You can have a safe gathering of 10 people; you can also have a wholly unsafe gathering of 10 people,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It depends on what people do.” All professional sports teams in New York will be able to begin training camps, effective immediately. “I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena — do it,” Gov. Cuomo said.
In New Jersey, Gov. Philip D. Murphy announced on Twitter that the state had 96 new deaths caused by the virus, bringing the number of total fatalities to 11,081. New York State’s extensive array of campgrounds and R.V. parks will reopen starting Monday.
The Jersey Shore beaches have reopened with restrictions, but a rainy day on Saturday helped limit crowds. Statewide in New Jersey, there were 443 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, the governor said, indicating that the disease, as in New York, is still spreading, though more slowly than weeks ago. Veterinarians will be allowed to perform non-emergency care starting Tuesday. “That’s a service that is necessary and has been necessary for a period of time,” the governor said.
New York had 109 new deaths due to the virus, 27 of which were in nursing homes. That was an increase from the 84 deaths reported Saturday, which was the first time since late March that the daily toll was less than 100.
Dolly and Amaya Diaz were hoping to spend July and August in the sun, playing softball. Nael Genao was planning a big trip to the Dominican Republic. Amy Tsai’s five children were supposed to be in math programs or day camp, finally leaving her time and space to catch up on work.Dolly and Amaya Diaz were hoping to spend July and August in the sun, playing softball. Nael Genao was planning a big trip to the Dominican Republic. Amy Tsai’s five children were supposed to be in math programs or day camp, finally leaving her time and space to catch up on work.
When New York City’s public schools shuttered in March, it was hard to imagine that the city’s 1.1 million public school students and their families would still be in lockdown at the end of the school year.When New York City’s public schools shuttered in March, it was hard to imagine that the city’s 1.1 million public school students and their families would still be in lockdown at the end of the school year.
But with quarantine now looking like the new normal in the national epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, families across New York are steeling themselves.But with quarantine now looking like the new normal in the national epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, families across New York are steeling themselves.
“It’s been tough so far on our kids, it’s going to in some ways be even tougher as the summer goes on,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week.“It’s been tough so far on our kids, it’s going to in some ways be even tougher as the summer goes on,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week.
Nearly 180,000 children will be asked to attend summer school, but that still leaves about 85 percent of public school students with little to do in July and August. Pools will be closed through the summer, and city beaches are currently closed for swimming.Nearly 180,000 children will be asked to attend summer school, but that still leaves about 85 percent of public school students with little to do in July and August. Pools will be closed through the summer, and city beaches are currently closed for swimming.
In early March, doctors at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway identified the first Covid-19 patient in Queens. In the weeks that followed, the hospital was overwhelmed with Covid cases, and the morgue overflowed with the deceased.In early March, doctors at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway identified the first Covid-19 patient in Queens. In the weeks that followed, the hospital was overwhelmed with Covid cases, and the morgue overflowed with the deceased.
St. John’s is the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula, a thin strip of land where around 130,000 people live. The area includes some of the New York City neighborhoods with the highest rates of virus-related deaths.St. John’s is the only hospital on the Rockaway peninsula, a thin strip of land where around 130,000 people live. The area includes some of the New York City neighborhoods with the highest rates of virus-related deaths.
“We’re surrounded by nursing homes,” said Dr. Teddy Lee, head of the emergency department at St. John’s. “We were hit hard.”“We’re surrounded by nursing homes,” said Dr. Teddy Lee, head of the emergency department at St. John’s. “We were hit hard.”
Now, there is an uneasy lull, and the staff fears a second wave will come.Now, there is an uneasy lull, and the staff fears a second wave will come.
In a New York Times video, St. John’s staff members shared the difficult choices they made during the peak of the outbreak, as hospital workers began to reckon with the pandemic’s emotional toll.In a New York Times video, St. John’s staff members shared the difficult choices they made during the peak of the outbreak, as hospital workers began to reckon with the pandemic’s emotional toll.
Gary Hillard, a morgue attendant, said in the video that he had probably handled about 150 bodies. “It’s starting to tap into my pain,” he said.Gary Hillard, a morgue attendant, said in the video that he had probably handled about 150 bodies. “It’s starting to tap into my pain,” he 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.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.
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 Sharon Otterman, Edgar Sandoval, Eliza Shapiro and Matt Stevens.Reporting was contributed by Sharon Otterman, Edgar Sandoval, Eliza Shapiro and Matt Stevens.