New York has first daily drop in coronavirus deaths, Cuomo announces, as military personnel head to NYC
Cuomo critics highlight years of taxpayer waste, amid deepening coronavirus crisis in New York
Critics of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have brought to attention his years of fiscal mismanagement and cost-cutting that have worsened the state’s healthcare system. Check out how this is causing a major burden for the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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New York state has seen its first drop in daily coronavirus deaths, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday — as the U.S. Northern Command said it would deploy a combined total of 1,000 Air Force and Navy medical providers to the New York City area to support relief efforts in the next three days.
Cuomo added that New York also experienced a drop in intensive care admissions and the number of patients who need breathing tubes inserted.
“You could argue that you are seeing a plateauing,” Cuomo told reporters, as he revealed that the state had reported 594 new coronavirus deaths — down from the 630 reported on Saturday and the 562 on Friday. 4,159 people have died in the state so far, with approximately 122,000 total positive cases.
Pressed on whether the state was at an apex of coronavirus fatalities, Cuomo emphasized that he can’t be sure.
«The statisticians will not give you a straight answer on anything,» he responded. «At first, it was straight up and straight down, or a total V. Or maybe it’s up with a plateau and we’re somewhere on the plateau. They don’t know.»
Cars pass the Jacob Javitz convention Center Friday, April 3, 2020, in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City will be «converted to a COVID facility.» The original plan was that non-COVID patients would go to the convention center and it would be an «overflow for hospitals.» (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Separately, the military said that the 1,000 personnel would work in support of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A total of 300 of these «uniformed medical providers will work from the Javits Center and the rest will deploy to other area locations to expand local medical capabilities in the war against COVID-19,» U.S. Northern Command, which is leading coronavirus efforts for the Department of Defense, said.
Americans were bracing for what the nation’s top doctor warned Sunday would be “the hardest and saddest week” of their lives while Britain assumed the unwelcome mantle of deadliest coronavirus hotspot in Europe after a record 24-hour jump in deaths that surpassed even hard-hit Italy.
«This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,’’ U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams told “Fox News Sunday.”
Efforts to combat the virus have been stepped up around the world. In France, heat-seeking drones have been whizzing over Fontainebleau forest to identify rule-breakers after the former royal estate in the Paris suburbs was closed to the public. That high-tech measure has been coupled with more traditional police patrols on horseback and roadblocks that turn back the cars of those seeking to escape urban areas.
Police officers speak to a woman during a nationwide confinement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Biarritz, France, Saturday April 4, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
In Sweden, authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing, but schools, bars and restaurants are still open.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated Mass and blessed palms for Palm Sunday in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica. Usually tens of thousands of faithful would have crowded the square outside to attend a papal Mass.
Holy Thursday and Easter services will be held the same way. In the pope’s native Argentina, the faithful were using plants at home for a “virtual” blessing during a livestream of the Palm Sunday service.
This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates. Fox News’ Kelly Burke and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
