NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – New York City reported its first two coronavirus deaths on Saturday as the total number of cases jumped by nearly 200 statewide late Saturday to 613, with 115 of those new cases in the city.
The total number of cases in the city is now 269, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday night. For comparison, the number of cases was 95 on Thursday, when Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency.
New York City now has more cases than Westchester, which previously had the highest number in the state.
Cases as of Saturday night:
- 613 statewide (187 new cases)
- 269 in New York City (115 new cases)
- 178 in Westchester (28 new cases)
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De Blasio said at least 30 people in the city are hospitalized and that 19 of them were in the ICU Friday night. He said 80 percent of those hospitalized are over 50 years old or have preexisting conditions.
Cuomo said Saturday morning that an 82-year-old woman with emphysema died Friday night in Brooklyn—the first coronavirus death reported in the state.
"We had last night a death in a New York City hospital of an 82-year-old woman who had coronavirus. She came into the hospital on March 3," Cuomo said on a conference call Saturday morning.
De Blasio said the woman died at Wyckoff Medical Center in Brooklyn.
"Today, we are confirming our first death due to severe complications from COVID-19. The patient, an elderly woman with advanced emphysema, was admitted to the hospital last week as one of our first cases, and had been in critical condition ever since," de Blasio said in a statement. "We've known from the outset that these people are the most at risk in this pandemic, and today's news is a sad confirmation of that reality. I want to thank the staff of Wyckoff Medical Center for their efforts to save this woman's life, and all the medical professionals on the front lines protecting our most vulnerable."
"We all have a part to play here. I ask every New Yorker to do their part and take the necessary precautionary measures to protect the people most at risk," de Blasio continued.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said the woman was a Brooklyn resident; previously, officials said she was from Manhattan.
"We're saddened to learn of our city's first reported death linked to the #COVID19 pandemic — a Brooklyn senior," Adams tweeted. "Any death, at any time, is a tragedy, but her death's especially significant as it emphasizes just how closely this pandemic hits close to home."
In a call with 1010 WINS Saturday afternoon, Cuomo said of the death, "We're going to see more of that, but the context for that is everything."
He said the woman's preexisting condition made her especially vulnerable and reiterated that most people do not face life-threatening complications from the virus.
A second death from the coronavirus was reported in Rockland County Saturday afternoon.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Laura Carbone said a 65-year-old resident of Suffern with significant health problems died from the virus. He or she died on March 12, Carbone said.
There are now 13 positive cases of coronavirus in Rockland County.
Cuomo also announced Saturday that he's directing insurers to waive co-pays for telehealth visits.
"Calling for medical advice and then only visiting the ER or doctor's office if so advised will limit your exposure and keep our medical professionals healthy and able to work," Cuomo tweeted.
Meanwhile, a student at I.S. 27 on Staten Island has tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday. De Blasio said the student was not symptomatic at school and that the school is being cleaned, with plans to reopen Monday.
An FDNY member in Brooklyn also tested positive, de Blasio said Saturday.
Cuomo believes perhaps tens of thousands of New Yorkers already have the virus; the true number of people statewide is unknown because testing is still being ramped up.
"I believe many more people had it, have it and will have it," he said, adding that while the state can now test 6,000 people a day, there are millions who may like to be tested.
There have been at least 50 deaths deaths nationwide, including the two New York residents. As of Saturday, at least 2,443 people in 49 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico have contracted the virus.
At his morning news conference, Cuomo also said that Jones Beach on Long Island is being considered for a mobile coronavirus testing center. The state opened its first drive-through testing center Friday in New Rochelle, where the worst virus cluster in the state is. Cuomo said allowing people to be tested from their cars is safer and faster. The number to call for an appointment is: 888-364-3065.
Meanwhile, Nassau Executive Laura Curran announced Saturday that the number of cases in the county had risen to 70, up from 51 on Friday.
Officials in Suffolk County also announced nine new cases on Saturday. The county now has 37 confirmed cases.
The latest coronavirus news from New York:
SCHOOLS
Despite mounting pressure, schools in New York City remain open, making it an outlier among a growing list of cities and states, from Pennsylvania to Oregon, that are closing schools for a week or more as part of a nationwide attempt to limit the spread of what's known as COVID-19.
Mayor Bill de Blasio raised concerns about the unintended consequences of leaving more than 1.1 million students with no place to go. He said a shutdown could end up lasting the rest of the school year, or even the calendar year, once "momentum is lost."
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson was among those who urged the mayor Friday to shutter the district, the nation's largest.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn said they would close elementary schools in their systems for at least a week, and the Success Academy charter school chain said it would suspend on-campus instruction.
Officials in several New York state counties outside of New York including Herkimer and Ulster announced school closings on Friday.
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NO LARGE GATHERINGS
As of 5 p.m. Friday, the state is temporarily banning gatherings of 500 people or more, and venues that can fit under 500 people can only be filled to half of their capacity. The ban does not apply to hospitals, schools, nursing homes and mass transit.
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POLICE PREPARATIONS
The NYPD has given out 67,550 pairs of gloves and 26,440 masks to officers, along with disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. About 500,000 additional masks are in storage, with more on the way, officials said.
A police union, the Police Benevolent Association, had filed a complaint with a state labor agency this week, alleging the police department failed to provide adequate protective equipment, including masks and gloves, to all police officers.
City officials pushed back on that, with Mayor Bill de Blasio saying the union was spreading "misinformation."
So far, no NYPD officers have tested positive for the virus, but more than a dozen remain in self-quarantine for various reasons.
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CULTURAL CLOSINGS
The curtain went down on Broadway shows starting at 5 p.m. Thursday and though April 12. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall and the New York Public Library are also among the arts institutions that announced closings. The St. Patrick's Day Parade has been postponed.
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CASES
The state's largest cluster is in New Rochelle, in suburban Westchester County. The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people, and the vast majority of people recover. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.
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GOVERNOR SAYS DAUGHTER EXPOSED
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said one of his three daughters has been in quarantine because she was exposed to someone with COVID-19. "I had to talk myself through the reality of the situation, I had to calm myself," Cuomo said at a news briefing.
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STAYING OFF THE TRAINS AND ROADS
Ridership on public transportation has dropped significantly from a comparable day a year ago. State officials said there's been a decline of 18.65% on subways, 31% on Long Island Rail Road and 48% on Metro-North Railroad. Traffic at Metropolitan Transportation Authority bridges and tunnels has declined by 6.7%.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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