NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on Monday reported 10 new coronavirus deaths and 103 new cases — and said all essential workers will now be able to get tested for COVID-19, whether they have symptoms or not.
LISTEN LIVE: 1010 WINS' 24/7 coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
A total of 39,136 Nassau County residents have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 2,044 have died, Curran said.
As of Sunday evening, 624 people were hospitalized with the virus — down from 32 on Saturday. The number of patients on ventilators is down by six, to 153, according to Curran.
The county has cleared six of the seven metrics it needs to start phase one reopenings, Curran said.
"The one that we're still behind on is the decline in the number of deaths," she said. The county has seen a "streak of decline several days in a row," but needs to see the daily death toll decline for 14 days in a row, she noted.
Curran on Monday also announced that all of the county's essential workers will be able to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of whether or not they're exhibiting symptoms.
"If you have symptoms, but also, if you are an essential worker, you can get viral testing now," she said. "So that of course is our first responders, law enforcement, grocery store workers, health care workers — anyone who is out there interfacing with the public is now eligible for viral testing."
Curran also said she has written to Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking that Nassau County hospitals be allowed to perform elective surgeries.
Hospitals in Suffolk and Westchester counties recently got the go-ahead for elective surgeries, she said.
"We've been seeing people putting off a lot of crucial critical care, not having to do with coronavirus at all," she said.
Hospital executives are "ready to go and do this in the safest way possible," she added.
Asked about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's decision not to open city beaches to the public over Memorial Day weekend, Curran said she "respected his decision." Police officers and park staff will be out this weekend making sure beaches in the county are operating at 50 percent capacity, per Cuomo's recent order, she noted.
Nassau County beaches will be open to both county residents and visitors this weekend, unlike Suffolk County beaches. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on Monday announced that the county's beaches would only be open to residents over Memorial Day weekend.
"It's my priority that Suffolk County residents will have access to their beaches with #COVID19 safety rules in place," he tweeted.
Like 1010 WINS on Facebook and follow @1010WINS on Twitter to get breaking news, traffic, and weather for New York City.
