NY’s confirmed coronavirus cases top 30,000, by far most in country
Governor praises 40,000 health professionals who signed up to serve if hospitals add more beds for people stricken with virus
Photo by Mike Groll/ Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo: Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press conference in the Red Room at the State Capitol in Albany today.
New York’s confirmed coronavirus cases are now more than 30,000, by far more than any other state. (New Jersey has the second most with 3,675, California is third with 2,644 and Washington State has 2,404.)
New York confirmed 5,146 additional coronavirus cases since Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 30,811. New York City accounts for 17,856 of the cases, or about 60 percent of the state’s total. There are new cases since Tuesday in 36 of the state’s 62 counties.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York is ground zero of the coronavirus pandemic, and the state needs help from other states and the federal government in meeting the demand for ventilators for people suffering respiratory infections from the coronavirus.
“New York is the canary in the coal mine – we have the most positive cases in the nation and the most critical need for equipment and personnel,” Cuomo said. “We are doing everything we can to flatten the curve and slow the infection rate so the influx of hospitalizations doesn’t overwhelm our healthcare system.”
New York is on an rapid upward trajectory with cases sooner than other states. When the cases drop, Cuomo said the ventilators could be moved to other states that will likely see a surge in cases.
If the state can add the beds and ventilators to meet the anticipated demand on hospitals, the governor said there needs to be more healthcare workers to serve those patients.
He announced that about 40,000 healthcare professionals have voluntarily signed up to serve to help meet that demand, and about 6,000 mental health professionals have offered to serve people feeling a mental toll from the pandemic. (New Yorkers can call the state’s hotline at 1-844-863-9314 to schedule a free appointment.)
“I can see how New Yorkers are responding,” Cuomo said. “I can see how New Yorkers are treating one another. I see the 6,000 mental health volunteers. I see the 40,000 health care workers stepping up. I see the vendors calling me, saying, I can help. That’s New York. That’s New York. And that, my friends, is undefeatable.”
