NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — At least two coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in New York as the number of confirmed cases surged statewide overnight.
Rockland County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Laura Carbone released a statement Saturday saying, "The death we have been investigating within the Village of Suffern on March 12, 2020 has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are confirming that this is the first death in Rockland County due to COVID-19. The decedent was 65 years old and had other significant health problems which were likely contributory to death."
Earlier in the day, New York reported its first death from coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases surged statewide overnight.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the patient was an 82-year-old New York City woman who was hospitalized for emphysema.
The number of confirmed cases in the state has climbed to 524. So far 117 people have been hospitalized.
Cuomo also announced plans to open a drive-through testing site on Long Island by the end of next week, likely at or near Jones Beach
The state's first drive-through testing center, which allows people to be tested from their cars, opened in hard-hit New Rochelle on Friday. In the first day of operation the site handled 150 cars and Cuomo said they plan to book more appointments since testing proceeded faster than expected.
"It's not only faster and easier, it's also smarter and safer because you're not exposing people to someone who may be positive," Cuomo said. "It's safer to keep them in their car, it's less exposure overall."
The state is also ordering the waiving of copays for tele-medicine to reduce in-person contact at medical offices and emergency rooms.
On Friday, the federal government approved 28 laboratories throughout New York to conduct coronavirus testing. The approved laboratories will no longer have to wait for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm presumed positive cases, which will allow the state to conduct about 6,000 tests per day.
Cuomo says he believes thousands of New Yorkers most likely got the coronavirus and self-resolved without even knowing they were infected. The virus causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people and officials say 80 percent of those who get it will self-resolve, but vulnerable populations such as senior citizens with underlying health problems it can cause more severe illness and death.
The governor stressed that "nobody is going to be immune to this" and the coronavirus pandemic "is not going to be gone next week."
"This is months, so prepare yourself and this is going to be everywhere," the governor said Friday.
New York this week banned gatherings of 500 people or more in the state to control the spread of the virus, prompting the closure of iconic New York institutions, such as Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera, all New York City Public Libraries, and all Broadway shows.
The rule change will not apply to mass transit, schools or nursing homes and Mayor Bill de Blasio says there are no immediate plans to close the city's public schools.
On Wednesday, the city's famed St. Patrick's Day Parade was also postponed over public health concerns.
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