New York City – The number of coronavirus-related deaths in New York continues to rise, but Governor Andrew Cuomo says plans to prepare for a potential “apex” of cases in New York are moving forward.
Cuomo spoke Friday from the Javits Center in New York City, which has been re-purposed to a temporary hospital in response to the pandemic.
Among the topics discussed Friday were the latest number of infections and coronavrus-related deaths, an extension on the closures of schools in New York and a message from the governor to service men and women helping to mitigate the crisis.
Number of deaths on the rise
Coronavirus-related deaths have risen to 519 in New York. Thursday, that number was 385.
Some of those patients, Cuomo said, had been at the hospital for close to 25 days, and had been on a ventilator for that duration.
The governor said the number of deaths is expected to keep rising in the days and weeks ahead.
There are more than 7,300 newly-reported cases in New York, bringing the total amount of positive cases to 44.635. New York continues to lead the country with the most reported positive cases. New Jersey, which has the second-highest number of cases, is up to more than 6,800.
Of the positive cases in New York, 6,481 involve hospitalization, with 1,583 of those patients in ICU beds. The governor said 2,045 patients have been discharged.
More than 16,000 new tests have been conducted, bringing New York’s total to more than 138,000.
Preparing for the apex
The peak number of coronavirus cases involving hospitalization in New York, what Governor Cuomo has been referring to as the “apex”, could arrive within three weeks.
While health officials stress the need to continue social distancing and taking steps to help flatten the curve – or the impact on the hospital system – the state has also been taking steps to brace for what it says is likely ahead.
PPE and Ventilators
The governor has said in previous days that New York hospitals have enough personal protective equipment for the near future, but more will be needed in the weeks ahead.
The state also continues to look for more ventilators. Its goal is 30,000, the number which is projected to be needed during the potential apex.
Thursday night, President Donald Trump downplayed Gov. Cuomo’s request for 30,000 to 40,000 ventilators in New York.
“I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators,” President Trump said during an interview on Fox News.
“Yes, they’re in a stockpile, because that’s where they’re supposed to be, because we don’t need them yet,” Cuomo said Friday, regarding ventilators. “We need them for the apex. The apex isn’t here, so we’re gathering them in a stockpile so when we need them, they will be there. We don’t need them today, because we’re not at capacity today.”
Cuomo also said he hoped the state would not be in need of 30,000 ventilators – but the projections he’s receiving says that hope might not come to fruition.
“I don’t operate here on opinion. I operate on facts and on data, and on numbers and on projections,” he continued. “We have Cornell making projections, the CDC making approximates. McKinsey and Company are making projections for us. All of the projections say you’re going to need an apex needing 140,000 beds and about 40,000 ventilators. Those are numbers, not ‘I feel, I think, I believe, I want to believe’. Make the decisions based on that data and on the science, and we’re following the data and the science, and that’s what the data and science says.”
Increasing hospital beds
The state also continues to ramp up hospital capacity across New York. The Javits Center is one of four locations that has been re-purposed – thanks to efforts from the National Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers – to create more beds to help battle the epidemic.
The USNS Comfort, which will provide another 1,000 beds, is due to arrive Monday.
Governor Cuomo said the state is looking to add four more temporary hospitals – in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx – to help mitigate the situation.
The state continues to look at hotels and college dormitories for additional beds ahead of the potential apex.
Schools to remain closed
The governor said Friday he wants to extend the amount of time schools in New York continue to remain closed.
The previous end-date for closures was April 1, but Cuomo says that window should be extended for two additional weeks.
He said schools must continue to provide distance learning, childcare assistance for employees and meals for student. He added the 180-day waiver for school districts would be extended.
“I don’t do this joyfully, but I think when you look at the number of cases still increasing, it only makes sense to keep the schools closed,” Cuomo said Friday.
The governor will reassess the situation as the new extension date draws closer.
Signs of hope
There continue to be signs that social distancing efforts are working to contain the spread of the virus.
While Governor Cuomo noted hospitalizations continue to be doubling, they are doing so at a decreased rate in recent weeks.
The governor also noted a continued rise in the number of New Yorkers – and others – who are responding to the call for help amid the outbreak. He said the number of retired medical staff volunteers who’ve come back into the field amid the outbreak has grown to 62,447 – an increase of more than 10,000 in one day.
Mental health professionals volunteering their services has also gone up to more than 10,000.
A message to service members
Governor Cuomo took a moment during Friday’s news conference to thank the men and women in uniform who are helping to convert locations like the Javits Center into temporary hospitals.
“What you did in one week, creating a hospital, is incredible,” said Cuomo. “I don’t know how you did it.”
Cuomo described the current situation as a “rescue mission” to “save lives” amid the pandemic. He also made what he described as two promises to members of the National Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers.