New COVID-19 Hospitalizations In N.Y. Drop Below 1,000 For First Day In A Month

TOPLINE

New hospital admittances of patients diagnosed with coronavirus infections fell under 1,000 Monday in New York State, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a Tuesday press conference, the first time in a month that the hospitalization rate has dropped under that number.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“Every day I think maybe today is the day the nightmare will be over, but it’s not,” Cuomo said in reference to the state’s death toll. As of Tuesday, over 17,000 New Yorkers have died from the virus.

What to watch for

May 15, when New York’s stay-at-home orders are set to expire. Cuomo said parts of upstate New York have low numbers of COVID-19 cases that are comparable to some states in the Midwest and West. That’s where he plans to relax restrictions first. 

Big number

46,000. That’s the number of construction and manufacturing jobs that will restart in upstate New York on May 15. Phase one of Cuomo’s reopening plan focuses on the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Key background

New York is the country’s coronavirus epicenter with over 292,000 cases. During a Monday interview with Axios On HBO, Cuomo said he wishes he “blew the bugle” on the virus in January⁠—a statement he echoed during his Tuesday press briefing. “Where was the whole international health community? The national health community….the alphabet soup of agencies? The intelligence community with briefings?” Cuomo asked. The Washington Post reported Monday night that Trump’s daily intelligence briefing book did contain warnings about the virus in January and February. 

Further reading

Cuomo Details Plans For Reopening New York, Says NYC Needs ‘Summer Activities’ Open For Residents (Forbes)

President’s intelligence briefing book repeatedly cited virus threat (Washington Post)

Cuomo Shreds ‘Grim Reaper’ McConnell’s Suggestion That States Go Bankrupt (Forbes)

Coronavirus Model Used By White House Increases Death Toll For The Second Time In A Week (Forbes)

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