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* New York City health officials are recommending that residents wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor settings due to rising respiratory virus cases ahead of the holiday season. “This is especially important for people who are – or are meeting – those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those age 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised,” officials said. Read more from the city [here](https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2022/health-department-issues-commissioners-advisory.page).
* The FDA and CDC have authorized “updated boosters” of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID vaccines to better protect against the Omicron variant. As of December, both vaccines are authorized for everyone down to children aged six months. These new “bivalent” shots include two mRNA components; one that broadly protects against general COVID, and one for the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of omicron. These two subvariants are causing most cases in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this winter. See the FDA’s statement [here](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-updated-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-children-down-6-months).
* National health officials are encouraging mask use to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses over the holiday season. Read more from CNBC [here](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/05/cdc-encourages-people-to-wear-masks-to-prevent-spread-of-covid-flu-rsv.html).
* The CDC updated its COVID isolation and quarantine guidance over the summer, while relaxing recommendations as a whole. See more details [here](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html).
* Masks are now optional in NY mass transit and some congregate facilities where they were once required. This includes all MTA services including subways, trains, and buses, in addition to taxis, airports, correctional facilities, detention centers, and homeless shelters. Masks will now be “encouraged, but optional” in these settings. However, the mandate remains in effect for adult care facilities and healthcare facilities.

COVID-19 in NYC

Citizen will provide daily updates on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with local and state health departments.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear within 14 days of exposure to the virus.

The CDC recommends several ways to prevent exposure to the virus: 1) Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 2) Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. 3) Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze. 4) If you are sick, stay home from school or work and seek medical care. 5) Avoid contact with people who are sick. 6) Clean frequently touched surfaces in your home and office daily.

As of Thursday afternoon, there are four confirmed cases of COVID-19, commonly known as the new coronavirus, in New York City. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, the two new patients are a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s. Neither patient has a connection to a known patient or has traveled to a known affected area. Both are currently hospitalized. One of the other cases is a 39-year-old woman who had recently traveled to Iran. She is a healthcare worker and immediately self-quarantined upon noticing her symptoms. Her husband is assumed to be infected as well and has also self-quarantined. The other case is a 50-year-old man from Westchester who works in Manhattan and suffers from an underlying respiratory issue. He has been hospitalized in Manhattan and is in stable condition. Three members of his family and a neighbor who drove him to the hospital have all also tested positive for the virus and are being quarantined in their homes in New Rochelle. Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed Wednesday that there are five more confirmed cases in New Rochelle stemming from the initial patient from Westchester.

The Governor announced Thursday that there are an additional 9 cases in the state, bringing the statewide total to 22 Eight of these new cases are in Westchester and are connected to the other cases in the area. One patient is on Long Island and has been hospitalized.

In a radio interview Friday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed a new case of the virus. The patient is a Manhattan resident in his 50s and is associated with the other cases in Westchester. Governor Cuomo announced Friday afternoon that there are an additional 10 cases outside of the city linked to other cases in Westchester. The statewide total is now 33.

Saturday afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced an additional six cases in New York City. He also announced that the statewide total of active cases is 76, most of which are in Westchester County. The Governor has declared a state of emergency, which allows him greater spending powers to combat the spread of the virus.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Cuomo announced an additional case in New York City, bringing the amount to 12 total. There are now 105 cases total in New York State, 82 of which are in Westchester County. Cuomo said that the high tally in Westchester is the “real issue”, and explained that a resident who tested positive for the virus is presumed to have infected multiple people at a large gathering. During the briefing, Cuomo also pleaded for the CDC to approve testing in various private laboratories across the state, in addition to automated testing.

On Sunday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio reported another positive case in The Bronx, bringing the amount to 13 total. Non-essential international travel has been banned for NYC school students, in addition to city workers.

On Monday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that three new positives cases have been found—two in Brooklyn and one in Queens—bringing the total to 16 active cases in New York City.

On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there are currently 19 active cases of coronavirus in New York City. Westchester now stands at 98 confirmed cases, and the statewide total is 142; Cuomo also said that 8 out of 142 people have been hospitalized, and stressed that most healthy individuals will not experience life-threatening symptoms from the virus. In addition, Cuomo announced that New York State has begun to produce its own hand sanitizer.

On Monday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio reported that there are currently 20 active cases of coronavirus in New York City. 205 Tests have come back negative, and 86 are pending. According to an update from the FDNY, one FDNY EMS member has tested positive for the virus after contact with someone who recently traveled abroad. All patients treated by this EMS member will be contacted by the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. EMS members who worked alongside this person will self-quarantine.

Governor Cuomo announced Tuesday that there are now 36 confirmed cases in New York City. According to officials, there are now 173 cases in New York state. Of these patients, only 14 are hospitalized. 108 Of the cases are in Westchester County, mostly in New Rochelle. The National Guard will be helping to establish what the governor is referring to as a "containment area" at the hub of the outbreak in New Rochelle starting March 12th. Late Tuesday afternoon, the New York Road Runners announced they would cancel Sunday’s NYC Half Marathon and youth events due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday that there are currently 53 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City. He also urged anyone feeling sick to exercise common sense hygiene, to stay home, and to call a doctor if the symptoms persist. Late Wednesday night, Governor Cuomo announced the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade will be postponed due to coronavirus concerns.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday morning that there are now 62 cases of coronavirus in New York City. There are currently no plans to shut down the subway system or school system, though certain schools that have been exposed to the virus have been shut down.

On Thursday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio declared a state of emergency and announced there are now 95 coronavirus cases in the city. Earlier in the day, Governor Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings with more than 500 people. Broadway theaters will go dark starting at 5pm Thursday through April 12th.

On Friday afternoon, the New York Public Library announced that all public libraries in New York City would close from Saturday, March 14th until at least March 31st.

On Friday afternoon NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson confirmed that there are 154 cases of coronavirus in the city. New York state now has 421 total cases.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the first recorded death from the new coronavirus in New York State. The victim was a woman in her 80s who had suffered from emphysema. She was hospitalized in New York City. There are now 524 recorded cases in New York State.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Saturday afternoon an additional 29 cases in New York City, bringing the citywide total to 183 cases. He announced that 30 infected individuals in the city are hospitalized, 19 of which are in the intensive care unit. He also urged younger and less vulnerable New Yorkers to avoid close contact with older individuals and those with preexisting conditions when possible.

Governor Cuomo announced on Sunday a total of 729 coronavirus cases across NY State. 329 Cases are in NYC. The third statewide death was also announced. The patient was a 79-year old woman who was hospitalized in NYC with multiple underlying health conditions. The governor encouraged private business owners to consider work from home options and voluntary closings to reduce density and to slow the spread of the virus. Gov. Cuomo also told “non-essential” state employees in NYC, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties to work remotely starting Monday.

Late Sunday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio announced five total deaths in NYC from the new coronavirus. He also announced that all NYC public schools will be closed starting Monday, and will remain closed through at least the 20th of April. Remote training is underway for NYC educators and remote classes should begin next week.

Mayor de Blasio tweeted on Sunday night that he intends to sign an Executive Order on Monday which will limit restaurants, bars and cafes to takeout and delivery service. He added that nightclubs, movie theaters, theater houses and concert venues must all close. The order is expected to take effect March 17th at 9 a.m. The mayor explained these measures are being taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus which is known to spread through close contact with someone who is sick.

Gov. Cuomo announced on Monday a joint effort by leadership in NY, NJ and CT to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus. As of 8 p.m. Monday, gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. Casinos, gyms, theaters, and music venues will be closed until further notice. Bars and restaurants operating delivery and takeout service will stay open. He added that local governments must reduce their workforce by 50 percent and employees are encouraged to work from home if possible. There are new cases of the coronavirus in NYC, bringing the city total to 463 cases. There are 950 cases statewide.

On Monday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio announced two additional deaths from the coronavirus. The patients were a 56-year-old man who worked for city government and an 89-year-old man who recently returned from Italy. The mayor also signed an executive order which he announced previously. The order shutters non-essential city businesses, postpones elective surgeries and encourages people to work from home. The mayor asked the public to be cautious and to limit their contact with others.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday afternoon that there are now 814 cases across the five boroughs of New York City. He urged New Yorkers who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay home and self-isolate and to only seek medical attention if they are a member of a vulnerable population or their symptoms do not improve after three or four days.

New Yorkers can get regular updates on the latest coronavirus developments by texting COVID to 692-692 or COVIDESP for Spanish.

As of Wednesday morning, the current count of cases according to Mayor Bill de Blasio is 923 total cases and 10 deaths.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced several hundred additional new cases of the coronavirus in New York City in a conference held Wednesday afternoon. He did not provide an updated number of deaths in the city. There are now 2,382 cases statewide. He also announced that the federal government has dispatched the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship with approximately 1000 beds on board to assist New York in providing medical care to those affected by the outbreak.

As of Wednesday night, the NYC Department of Health has confirmed there are 1,871 cases in the city.

In a press conference held Thursday morning, Governor Cuomo announced that the citywide total for New York City is 2,469 cases. The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene is reporting 19 deaths across the five boroughs. The state is reporting 4,152 cases. Governor Cuomo announced that all businesses must reduce their non-remote workforce by 75%.

On Thursday evening, Mayor de Blasio announced there are 3615 confirmed cases of coronavirus in NYC. There have been 22 deaths caused by coronavirus complications. Officials are continuing to debate whether or not there will be a "shelter-in-place" order. The Mayor has stated there are enough medical supplies to last through early April. He has requested additional medical supplies from the Federal Government. Officials also confirmed an inmate at Riker's Island has tested positive for coronavirus.

In addition to announcing over a thousand new cases in New York City, Governor Cuomo announced new guidelines for New Yorkers in a press conference held in Albany late Friday morning. Guidelines include a mandatory 100% work from home policy for all non-essential workers. He urged vulnerable populations to leave home as little as possible and to avoid public transit. Vulnerable persons are to wear masks when around others. Younger and less vulnerable populations are also urged to remain indoors and venture outdoors only when absolutely necessary. Sick individuals are cautioned to not leave the house unless they are seeking medical attention, and to only do so after having been told to following a telehealth visit. The Governor also announced a statewide, 90-day moratorium on evictions.

Mayor de Blasio announced 5,151 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City and 29 deaths caused by COVID-19 complications. He has called the city the "epicenter of the crisis," with 1/3 of all US cases confirmed in NYC. Enrichment centers providing education and safety for the children of city employees and healthcare workers will begin use on Monday morning. Grab-and-go food sites will be available to provide daily meals to people 18 and under. Special services will deliver food to the homes of medically vulnerable students. Parks will be canceling all field, sport, and event permits. Ferries will be reducing service. Additional bike lanes will be opening as the mayor has encouraged the use of this method of transportation.

As of Saturday morning, the number of confirmed cases in New York City is 5,683 with 43 related deaths. The Mayor is asking New Yorkers to remain vigilant about COVID-19 related scams. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) staff will not go door-to-door soliciting from New Yorkers. If you do experience this, call 911.

In a press conference held in Albany late Saturday morning, Governor Cuomo reported additional cases in New York City for a total of 6,211 cases. There are 10,365 cases in New York State, the most in the entire country. New York has tested 45,437 individuals, the most of any state by a wide margin. Approximately 15% of confirmed cases in New York have required hospitalization.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 2,832 new cases in New York City, bringing the number of cases in New York City to 9,045 total. The tally in New York State is at 15,168 cases and 114 deaths, with 13% of those cases requiring hospitalization. Cuomo also asked for the federal government to nationalize medical supply acquisition and immediately utilize the Defense Production Act, citing that hospitals must stop competing for equipment. As of Saturday night, the NYC Mayor’s Office says that 60 people have died in New York City due to the virus.

As of 10 a.m. on Sunday, the NYC Mayor’s Office is reporting 9,654 positive cases of the coronavirus in New York City, in addition to 63 deaths. The tally across boroughs is as follows; 2,715 cases in Queens, 2,072 in Manhattan, 2,857 in Brooklyn, 1,411 in the Bronx, and 593 in Staten island. As of Saturday night, at least 1,450 have been hospitalized, and at least 370 of those individuals are in the ICU. New York State is reporting 15,168 cases and 114 deaths as of Sunday morning, with 13% of those cases requiring hospitalization.

The “New York State on PAUSE” executive order is in effect at 8 p.m. Sunday night, March 22nd. Residents are required to stay at home except to buy necessary items like groceries or medication, to seek medical attention or to take care of a pet. Non-essential businesses will be closed. Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Shea spoke on Sunday afternoon about the order. New Yorkers are reminded to practice social distancing if they go to parks. No team sports, events or gatherings are allowed. The mayor stressed if you leave your home for an essential errand or exercise “do not linger outside.” He also added that if people do not abide by these rules, he will be forced to consider shutting down parks to slow the spread of the coronavirus. According to health officials, there are 10,764 cases and 99 deaths reported citywide.

In a Monday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 12,305 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York City. The statewide tally is currently at 20,875 cases, with 5,707 of those cases being newly reported. 157 New York State residents have passed away as a result of the outbreak. The Governor previously issued a call to action to non-working or retired healthcare professionals in the state. So far, 30,000 responses have been received. He also detailed an emergency declaration in which hospitals will be required to increase their capacity by 50%, with an end-goal of a 100% increase.

Late Monday night, Mayor de Blasio's office confirmed additional cases of coronavirus in the city. There are 13,119 cases and 125 deaths. At a press conference earlier in the day, the mayor said New York City has 35% of all U.S. cases. The city is creating hospital space for those who need it and the federal government is providing necessary equipment such as ventilators, gloves, face masks, and gowns. The mayor stressed that on this first day of the “New York State on PAUSE” order it is important for residents to stay home to the maximum extent possible as social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of the virus.

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon at the Javits Center, which is being converted into a 1000-bed field hospital, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the new patient count for New York City is 14,904 cases. The state has 25,665 confirmed cases. He also urged the federal government to release 20,000 ventilators from its stockpile to help New York as it rapidly approaches peak infection.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor de Blasio announced the city will receive 2,000 ventilators from the federal government. In an effort to manage the spread of the coronavirus through jails, the mayor said 300 prisoners will be released from Rikers Island. They are inmates who are serving sentences for less than a year for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. The mayor said he won’t release inmates serving time for domestic violence or sexual assault. He also said that prisoners over 70 or those with pre-existing conditions should be released due to the health crisis. The mayor added there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of opening additional areas for residents to safely walk and exercise. Parks and playgrounds will remain open but the mayor's office will review the public response to social distancing and determine if closures are necessary. There are 15,597 confirmed cases in the city and 192 deaths.

At a press conference held late Wednesday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced over two thousand new cases in New York City, bringing the current total to 17,856 confirmed cases. The statewide total is at 30,811 cases. New York has tested more aggressively than any other state, and has thus far conducted over 100,000 tests. The Governor also announced that the state of New York has enough personal protective equipment to supply healthcare workers for the foreseeable future. 40,000 Healthcare workers have volunteered to serve in what the governor is calling the Surge Healthcare Force. This includes thousands of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Additionally, over 6,000 mental health professionals have volunteered their time to a free hotline for any New Yorker in need of someone to talk to. The number is 1-844-863-9314.

Mayor de Blasio's office confirmed there are 20,011 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city and 280 deaths caused by COVID-19 complications. In a press conference held Wednesday evening, the mayor gave updates regarding actions being taken by the city government to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus. By tonight 200 inmates will be released from Riker's Island jail. The inmates all have less than one year remaining on their sentences and have been convicted of non-violent felonies and misdemeanors. Regional Enrichment Centers for the education of the children of essential services workers will expand to include those that work in grocery stores and pharmacies, public resources workers, and ferry staff.

The New York City Department of Health has released new case totals for New York City. As of Thursday morning, there are 21,873 confirmed cases in the five boroughs and 281 dead. In a press conference held Thursday afternoon Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there have been 37,258 positive tests in New York State. Of those, 5,327 are hospitalized and 1,290 are in the intensive care unit. New York’s testing remains highly aggressive—the state is performing more tests-per-capita than anywhere else in the world. The Governor also announced that an experimental procedure allowing one ventilator to be used for two patients at once has been approved for use in New York hospitals.

In a press conference held Thursday evening, Mayor de Blasio said the city government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are working to increase the number of available hospital beds by converting existing medical and non-medical facilities into temporary healthcare centers. There are currently 34,000 available hospital beds in the city. The mayor said 7,000 beds are being added immediately, and the goal is 60,000 total hospital beds. According to President Trump, the USNS Comfort will be arriving in NY Harbor next week to provide additional medical resources. Gov. Cuomo also announced the state income tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15th and he issued a ruling that those applying for unemployment benefits do not need to prove they are searching for other work. There are 23,112 confirmed cases and 365 deaths in New York City.

The Mayor's office has announced starting Friday, March 27th, one street will be closed to vehicular traffic in every borough so that residents may walk and get fresh air while social distancing during the "PAUSE" order. These streets will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Monday, March 30th. Here is the list of streets: (MANHATTAN) Park Ave between 28th and 34th Streets, (BROOKLYN) Bushwick Ave between Johnson and Flushing Avenue, (QUEENS) 34th Ave between 73rd and 80th Streets, (BRONX) Grand Concourse between East Burnside and 184th. Residents are encouraged to enjoy the space but should remain six feet apart except for people who live in the same household.

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the current case count in the five boroughs is now 25,573 with 366 related deaths. In a press conference held Friday afternoon at the Javits Center, which has now been converted into a field hospital, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there have been 57,954 total cases in New York State with 519 related deaths. The Governor also announced his intention to ask the federal government for four more field hospitals, one in each borough. In addition to this, hospitals are looking for ways to increase capacity by as much as 100% in the coming days. The rate of hospitalizations has begun to slow. Instead of doubling every two and a half days, hospitalizations are now doubling every four days. Over 62,000 healthcare professionals have now volunteered to serve in the state’s Surge Healthcare Force. Additionally, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Twitter that tech mogul Elon Musk will be donating hundreds of ventilators to New York.

Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference Friday, discussing the city government's response to the coronavirus pandemic. The mayor announced he and the city government are working to establish a "rent freeze" for all unstabilized renters. This would suspend monthly rent for an undetermined period. The mayor marked April 5th as the threshold for having the medical equipment, personnel, and space necessary to keep hospitals from being overrun with acute cases. Additionally, the mayor's office is discussing an up-to-$500 fine for non-compliance to social distancing. Police would be given authority to serve this fine to anyone gathering in large groups or failing to maintain six feet of distance while outside. There are 25,573 total confirmed cases and 366 deaths in the city.

Updated numbers from the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene place the current case count in New York City as of Saturday morning at 26,697 cases with 450 dead.

The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene is currently reporting the citywide total at 29,151 cases with 517 dead. In a press conference held Saturday afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the current case total is at 52,318 statewide with 728 deaths. He announced his intention to ask major pharmacy chains to offer free delivery for the duration of the public health emergency. The Department of Health is monitoring the density and activity of New York City parks, specifically playgrounds. The state will close any playgrounds and parks where social distancing is not being properly practiced. The federal government has approved four new field hospitals—one in each borough. The Port Authority Cruise Ship Terminal in Brooklyn, the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, CUNY Staten Island and the New York Expo Center in the Bronx are all being converted into 1,000-bed field hospitals. The Governor has also delayed the New York presidential primary until June 23.

As of Saturday night, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed there are 30,765 cases of coronavirus in the city and 672 deaths. President Trump announced via Twitter that the has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a "strong Travel Advisory" on New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut. Members of the United Nations acquired 250,000 surgical masks that were donated to the city for use as protective equipment for medical staff and first responders. In a press meeting, Mayor de Blasio stated these masks are one of the most needed pieces of equipment as the city continues to combat the spread of COVID-19.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 33,768 cases in New York City, 4,002 of those being new patients. According to the New York City Department of Health, 678 city residents have died as a result of the outbreak. The state of New York has recorded 59,513 cases in total; 965 state residents have died from COVID-19 complications. Governor Cuomo also announced that 76,019 healthcare workers across the state have volunteered to help bolster the effort across hospitals. The group comprises over 8,000 physicians, 30,334 registered nurses, and various other specialized professionals. Cuomo also extended the work-from-home order for non-essential state workers. Finally, he clarified that the president’s travel advisory for the tristate area is not a lockdown, emphasizing that the measures outlined in the advisory are similar to advisories already in place for New York State.

Gov. Cuomo announced the "PAUSE" order will extend another two weeks through April 15th. The governor's office will re-evaluate every two weeks for further extensions. In a press conference held on Sunday, Mayor de Blasio paid tribute to some of the city workers and healthcare workers that have passed away from COVID-19 complications and expressed his gratitude for first responders and medics. He said an effort would be made to increase staffing for emergency medical personnel, citing how multiple doctors and nurses are relocating to Elmhurst Hospital to help with the high patient count. The mayor reported that 650 inmates have been released from NYC jails. He also touched upon the impending arrival of the USNS Comfort, a ship with over 1000 beds that will be used for non-coronavirus hospital backfill. The ship will arrive in NY Harbor Monday. He also announced a 68-bed field hospital is being built in Central Park and will be ready by Tuesday. As of Sunday, 33,768 cases have been reported in New York City, and 678 city residents have died from COVID-19 complications.

As of Sunday afternoon, the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene reported that 776 city residents have died from COVID-19 complications. The Governor last reported the citywide case count to be 33,768 total.

The USNS Comfort docked at Pier 90 Monday, carrying over 1,100 Navy medical personnel and support staff, as well as 70 civilian mariners. The vessel will act as a floating medical facility containing 1,000 beds, and will provide a full spectrum of general medical care to ease the burden on local hospitals that are inundated with COVID-19 patients. The facility will not be used for coronavirus treatment. The ship expects to begin receiving patients 24 hours after arriving in New York City. Patient transfers will be coordinated with local hospitals, and individuals will not be accepted on a walk-in basis. The Navy said that they do not anticipate charging patients who are treated on the ship. At a press conference held near the dock, Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked the Navy and all of the governmental bodies that assisted with the mission. He also noted that the ship had arrived ahead of schedule. “We have evidence here that [New Yorkers] are not alone,” de Blasio said. “The nation is helping us in our hour of need.” Governor Andrew Cuomo was also on site to welcome the ship; he later announced in a press conference that 66,497 cases have been confirmed in the state of New York. In total, 1,218 state residents have died from the coronavirus. As of 10:30 AM this morning, the New York Department of Health & Mental Hygiene reported 36,221 total cases of COVID-19 in the city. At least 790 city residents have passed away from COVID-19 complications, 639 of whom had underlying conditions.

On Monday evening, the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene reported 38,087 coronavirus cases and 914 deaths. Officials said a minor with an underlying condition was among the new deaths reported. 42% Of NYC patients are between 18 to 44 years old. Gov. Cuomo reminded New Yorkers on Monday, "This virus doesn't discriminate. It attacks everyone, and it attacks everywhere."

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced thousands of additional new cases in New York City, bringing the citywide total to 43,139 cases. The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene is reporting 932 deaths in the five boroughs. The statewide case total now sits at 75,795 with 1,550 deaths. The Governor also announced that he is establishing a central coordinating team to help better link the state's hospitals to one another. This will allow for upstate medical personnel to be more easily transferred downstate, and for New York hospitals to coordinate patient transfer between one another and the USNS Comfort.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference where he announced the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has been converted into a temporary medical facility for coronavirus patients from Elmhurst hospital. This center will begin use next week. The mayor asked all private medical practitioners to donate their ventilators and personal protective equipment to the city government to help hospitals deal with the rate of acute COVID-19 cases. Practitioners can donate their equipment at nyc. Gov/helpnow. The mayor has assured that the ventilators will be returned to their original owners once the crisis is over. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deliver 250 more ambulances to the city and 500 additional paramedics from around the country. The New York State Health Department reported there are 43,139 cases and 932 deaths in the city.

In a press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there are now 47,439 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City. The statewide case total is now at 83,712 cases. 12,226 People are currently hospitalized in the state for coronavirus, and 3,022 of them are in the intensive care unit. Governor Cuomo announced that current projections put the apex of infection in New York at the end of April. The Governor announced that New York City playgrounds will be closed until further notice to better enforce social distancing in the five boroughs. Open spaces in parks will remain open.

On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city has enough face shields, goggles, and gloves to supply hospitals until Sunday, April 5th. However, the city will require 3.3 million more N95 masks, 2.1 million surgical masks, 100 thousand isolation gowns, and over 400 more ventilators by then to handle the surge in new cases. The mayor has also stressed that 25-300 thousand more ventilators will be needed over the course of next week. The mayor has appointed former Police Commissioner James O'Neill as Senior Advisor. He will manage the supply chain of protective equipment and ventilators to all public hospitals in NYC and assist with efficiency and accountability. President and CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals Dr. Mitchell Katz addressed the need for more alternative medical facilities to handle the growth of new patients. His plan over the course of the growing rate of infection is to convert hospitals into Intensive Care Units (ICU) while sending the majority of patients who require standard medical care to the new alternative centers. Dr. Katz also spoke regarding how citizens can support medical staff who are often working in excess of 12-hour shifts. Many cannot leave to get food and must stay away from home to protect their families from potential exposure. People can directly donate on the NYC Health and Hospitals website. The New York State Department of Health confirmed there are 47,439 cases of coronavirus in the city and 1,096 deaths.

In a press conference held late Thursday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the current case count in New York City is at 51,809 total. The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene reported 1,374 related deaths at that time. The Governor announced that 21,000 out of state healthcare workers have volunteered to help New York in its battle against the coronavirus. The state is still looking for supplies. If you are a manufacturer who can help produce personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns or masks, the governor is asking that you contact 212-803-3100 or email covid19supplies@esd.ny.gov. The state will pay a premium for these products and will pay to help transition your operation into one that can properly produce these goods.

Mayor de Blasio announced the federal government delivered the 400 ventilators that were needed by Sunday. They will help prepare city hospitals for the inevitable peak of cases in the coming weeks. He has stressed that 2500-3000 ventilators will still be needed by the end of next week. The mayor has asked citizens around the country to assist New York hospitals by donating ventilators and protective equipment. Donations can be submitted online at the NYC government website. NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Barbot has requested that all residents wear facial coverings when they leave their homes. However, she has advised against using N95 and surgical masks and stated they should be donated to front-line medical personnel and first responders. Starting April 3rd, the mayor's office has expanded the Grab and Go meals program to now include adults. There are 435 sites across the five boroughs that will be offering three meals free of charge. Children and accompanying adults can receive meals from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Adults without children are welcome to receive meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. These sites can be located by calling 311 or by texting "FOOD" ("COMIDA" for Spanish) to 877-877 No one will be turned away. The mayor announced the Federal Paycheck Protection Program will open Friday, April 3rd. It will assist small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) with flexible loans of up to $10 million dollars. Business owners can apply to the Small Business Administration website. The New York State Health Department reported there are 51,809 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,374 deaths.

As of Friday morning, the mayor’s office is recommending that all New Yorkers wear face coverings when leaving the house. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are to be used only by medical professionals and first responders. People should wear makeshift face coverings such as homemade masks, bandanas and scarves. New Yorkers should be aware that this is not for personal protection—a makeshift face covering will not protect you from infection. A makeshift face covering will, however, help to prevent you from spreading the virus to others. Evidence continues to show that asymptomatic individuals can spread the virus to others easily. The mayor’s office also announced that all New Yorkers can receive three free meals every weekday from over 400 food drop off sites between 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Only one person per family needs to go to pick up food. In a press conference held late Friday morning, Governor Cuomo announced that he would be signing an executive order allowing him to use the National Guard to move ventilators and personal protective equipment between facilities. This will allow the most affected hospitals to have access to the lifesaving equipment that they need to combat the growing number of hospitalizations. The Governor reported the case count in New York City at 57,159 cases with 102,863 cases statewide.

In a press conference held Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced 200 thousand N95 masks were delivered by the federal government. The city still requires 15 thousand ventilators and 45 thousand healthcare workers to staff hospitals. He has asked healthcare workers to volunteer in both the intensive care units and nontraditional medical centers. The mayor also asked President Trump to create a national enlistment effort to recruit medical workers from across the country. The CDC recommended that all Americans wear cloth coverings over their nose and mouth. This is done to stop asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people from inadvertently spreading coronavirus. Those with N95 and surgical masks should donate them to medical workers and first responders. The New York State Health Department reports there are 57,159 cases in the city and 1,374 deaths.

In a press conference held Saturday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new case totals for New York. There were 63,306 confirmed cases in the five boroughs. The statewide totals were reported at 113,704 and 3,565 deaths. The Governor announced that the state of Oregon donated 140 ventilators to New York. Additionally, philanthropic groups from China led by Alibaba founders Jack Ma and Joseph Tsai have donated 1,000 ventilators.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 67,551 total cases in New York City. In total, 122,031 cases have been recorded in the state of New York. Cuomo also reported 4,159 total deaths in the state; NYC Health reported 2,472 deaths in the city. However, 574 new hospitalizations were reported on April 4th, which was a decrease from the previous day’s total of 1,095; Cuomo noted that it’s not clear whether the change represents an irregular blip or a hopeful shift in the data. The Governor detailed his strategy of “Surge + Flex”, wherein hospitals bolster their resources for their respective case surges and afterwards proceed to move personnel and equipment to other areas that need assistance. Cuomo said that this strategy is being utilized in New York and could be applied across states. In addition, Cuomo said that the Federal Government is deploying approximately 1,000 medical personnel to New York. The group comprises doctors, nurses, and respiratory technicians and therapists. All 325 people arriving today will be deployed to NYC Public Hospitals. Finally, Cuomo thanked the front-line healthcare workers and the New York health administration, and stressed the importance of ventilators as the battle against COVID-19 continues.

In a press conference Sunday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will need 1,000-1,500 additional ventilators later this week. The city estimates 4,000 coronavirus patients are on ventilators due to being intubated. At the current rate, 200-300 more are intubated daily, and 5,000 will be intubated by Tuesday or Wednesday. The city has only 134 ventilators left in its reserve. The mayor appealed to the state and federal governments to send more ventilators from their stockpiles, and thanked Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for sending 140 to New York. The mayor pledged that after the surge in cases passes, he will “happily send” equipment wherever it is needed. The mayor thanked the 291 military medical personnel who arrived today to aid the city’s public hospitals, but emphasized this does not meet the necessary 1,450 personnel he requested. Memorial Sloan Kettering and Hospital for Special Surgery agreed to take non-coronavirus patients in their specialty areas from NYC Health and Hospitals, allowing public hospitals to focus on coronavirus patient care. Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot reminded New Yorkers to “act like you have it” and cover the face when in public. Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said the Department of Education is transitioning to new remote learning platforms for student privacy reasons after telling teachers last week that Zoom would be banned. The mayor urged anyone who can offer medical skills or equipment to visit the Help Now NYC website (URL above) or call 833-NYC-0040.

In a Monday press conference held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke about the personal protective equipment (PPE) production occurring at the complexes there. The effort is being spearheaded by two companies—Crye Precision, a military equipment manufacturer, and Lafayette 148, a fashion house—who are focusing on producing hospital gowns en masse. Describing it as a “wartime factory,” De Blasio said that they are projected to create 19,000 gowns by the end of the week, and 300,000 by month’s end. Earlier Monday morning, the Mayor's Office announced that the recent "Safe Streets" pilot program will be suspended, as not enough people were utilizing the open space. De Blasio also stated that 45,000 medical personnel will be needed to sustain New York City’s healthcare system as the COVID-19 outbreak progresses. He went on to thank the federal government for the influx of workers that arrived yesterday, and also noted that 600,000 N95 masks would be arriving Monday on top of the 200,000 sent by the government on Friday. Finally, the mayor again asked anyone who can offer medical skills or equipment to visit the Help Now NYC website (URL above) or call 833-NYC-0040 "New York City is fighting back," de Blasio said. "We have an invisible enemy. We have a ferocious enemy. But we're fighting back with everything we've got."

In a Monday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 72,181 total cases in New York City, with 130,689 total in the state. There were 358 new hospitalizations. In total, 4,758 New Yorkers have died from COVID-19 complications across the state. The rate of hospitalizations saw a decrease over the last two days, and the rate of deaths has been effectively flat over the same two-day period. However, Cuomo stressed that the data is inconclusive—and regardless of whether the change represents a plateau, the state’s healthcare system cannot continue to operate at its current capacity. “This all depends on what we do now”, Cuomo said. “If we are plateauing, we are plateauing at a very high level and there is tremendous stress on the healthcare system.” Citing the importance of social distancing as the COVID-19 effort continues, Cuomo also announced that the NY PAUSE order would be extended until April 29th, meaning that schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed. He went on to express concerns about city residents appearing to loosen up on social distancing over the weekend, and said that he will increase the maximum fine for violations of state social distancing protocol. “It’s not about your life,” Cuomo said. “You don’t have the right to risk someone else’s life.” The Governor also announced that he is asking the president to allow the USNS Comfort—previously planned as a hospital for non-coronavirus patients—to be utilized as a COVID-19 treatment center. The state's "Surge + Flex" plan is continuing in full force, allowing for personnel and equipment to be distributed to areas with the most need.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the statewide count for coronavirus is at 138,836 cases and 5,489 dead. The USNS Comfort, previously a 1000-bed floating hospital for trauma patients, is being retooled into a 500-bed coronavirus treatment center. New York State has approved an antibody test and is awaiting FDA approval to bring it to scale. This test could allow the state to tell who has been infected and will be resistant to reinfection. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in an earlier press conference in the last three weeks New York City has provided over 2.6 million meals to families in need. New Yorkers are urged to text FOOD or COMIDA to 877877 if they need help finding a meal pickup site near them.

In a Wednesday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo shared two different trends in New York COVID-19 data. The rate of hospitalized patients has been decreasing, indicating that the NY PAUSE order has been effective. Cuomo stressed that New York will only maintain the positive trend if residents continue staying home and practicing social distancing measures. He gave a reminder of Italy’s overwhelmed healthcare system, and directed New Yorkers to remain diligent and disciplined. Cuomo went on to announce that New York State had its single highest death toll yesterday, with 779 New Yorkers passing away from COVID-19 complications. He warned that the fatality trend may continue to rise, as those who have been on long-term care will start to see their prognosis worsen. Later into the conference, Cuomo spoke about the state’s research into communities hit hardest by the coronavirus. He announced new assistance for those on unemployment, who will receive an additional $600 payment from the state. He also said that the period covered by unemployment would be extended by 23 weeks, for a total of 39 weeks. Finally, Cuomo announced that all New Yorkers can vote absentee for the June 23rd primary. “Be responsible, not just for yourself, but to protect the vulnerable,” Cuomo said. “Be responsible, because the life you risk may not be your own.” Mayor Bill de Blasio also gave a press conference Wednesday in which he said that the city is using fewer ventilators than expected. He also announced a multi-million dollar public awareness campaign that would focus on the NYC zip codes with the highest positive cases, utilizing TV, radio, digital, and print media in 14 different languages. Healthcare workers will also be conducting grassroots outreach to educate households about COVID-19 Finally, he said that the city would build on 311 and create a “phone-a-clinician” service to provide real-time answers on risk factors, symptoms, and care. As of 9:15 AM Wednesday, NYC Health reported 77,967 cases in the city, with 3,602 COVID-19 related deaths.

In a Thursday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio mapped out the next phase in New York City’s battle against the coronavirus. He expressed gratitude for the general compliance of New Yorkers in following social distancing restrictions, and emphasized that these measures would have to continue. He detailed three different epidemic phases; “widespread transmission”, “low-level transmission”, and “no transmission” De Blasio said that New York City is currently in the “widespread transmission” phase, which will likely last from April into May. Once the situation improves, the “low-level transmission” phase makes it so new cases are able to be traced back to their source, and will also bring greater testing capacity and relaxed social distancing regulations. The end goal is the “no transmission” phase, in which cases come primarily from outside NYC. De Blasio said that NYC must continue to practice social distancing in order to “earn” the low-level transmission phase, and requested that residents “double down” on what they’ve already been doing. Governor Andrew Cuomo also gave a press conference Thursday in which he said that hospitalization rates are stabilizing; there were 200 new hospitalizations on April 8th, which is the lowest number since March 19th. The daily change in ICU admissions and intubations has also decreased. However, the state recorded 799 total deaths yesterday, which is a new single-day high. Cuomo said that New Yorkers could successfully “flatten the curve” if social distancing regulations continue. He went on to talk about the state’s effort to bring rapid testing to New York, and also asked for those who have recovered from COVID-19 to visit nybc.org/cpdonor to learn about donating blood for convalescent plasma treatment. Cuomo’s Secretary Melissa DeRosa said that 600,000 unemployment claims have been processed, out of a total of 810,000 since March 9th. The state will be revamping its online unemployment form to make it easier to fill out claims. NYC has recorded 84,373 total cases and 4,426 deaths as of Thursday morning.

To address the ongoing coronavirus crisis in NYC, Gov. Cuomo announced five new testing facilities will open in the city in the coming days. A drive-thru test site will open Friday at 12:30 p.m. at the Sears Parking Lot located at 2307 Beverly Road in Brooklyn. An additional drive-thru test location will open at the Club House at Aqueduct Race Track Parking Lot at 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard in Queens on Monday. Three additional walk-in facilities will open next week in the South Bronx; Jamaica, Queens; and in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The walk-in facilities will be by appointment only and the sites will prioritize tests for the city's most vulnerable and highest risk residents. Anyone who would like to be tested must call 1-888-364-3065 to make an appointment. As of Thursday evening, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 87,725 coronavirus cases and 4,778 related deaths.

In a press conference held Friday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he is “cautiously optimistic” about trends in new cases and hospitalizations in New York. The rate of intensive care unit admissions has begun to decline. The governor attributed this to the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers following social distancing protocols. The governor cautioned that this modicum of good news should not be an indicator that New Yorkers should lower their guard and that social distancing is as important as ever. The state is providing $200 million in emergency food assistance to more than 700,000 low-income households enrolled in SNAP.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 94,409 cases of coronavirus in the city and 5,429 deaths caused by COVID-19 complications. In a Friday press conference, Mayor de Blasio formally requested the Rent Guidelines Board to vote on instituting a rent freeze for all rent-stabilized apartments. He asked the board to act quickly due to the high levels of unemployment faced by New Yorkers. Market-rate apartments will be unaffected. The mayor asked landlords and tenants to work on practical solutions to the rent crisis, suggesting landlords accept security deposits as rent until a decision is made. A recent report from the National Multifamily Housing Council showed that only 69% of renters nationwide were able to make payments as of April 5th. The mayor also spoke regarding the need for testing once the city has reached a lower level of viral transmission and asked the federal government for assistance. Working with Mayor Brainard of Carmel, Indiana, New York City received essential components to produce 50 thousand additional tests.

In a press conference held Saturday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City Schools will stay closed for the remainder of the school year. The Mayor emphasized that this is a public health decision and that the city will work closely with the state, as they develop a statewide approach to reopening schools down the line. De Blasio said that he spoke to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who supports the city’s decision to keep schools closed. The city will make efforts to distribute devices like laptops and tablets to students who need them to assist in e-learning. The Department of Education, in league with other agencies and media organizations will assist in making creative programming for New York students. The city will also focus efforts on helping to make sure that seniors will be able to graduate on time.

In a press conference held Saturday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the curve of infection in New York State continues to flatten as New Yorkers do their part to engage in social distancing practices. Daily intubations are also down. The governor urged New Yorkers to “stay the course” and continue to remain vigilant. The governor also announced that pro-bono legal assistance will be available to New Yorkers to help them navigate issues they may have with housing, access to government programs and other legal problems. The New York State Bar Association is asking lawyers who want to volunteer their time to go to nysba.org/covidvolunteer and sign up.

In a press conference on Sunday morning, Mayor de Blasio provided updates on testing, remote learning, and employment. The Mayor is requesting 110,000 individualized test kits from the federal government and plans to create testing centers in the neighborhoods most impacted by the coronavirus. The City of New York is now hiring temporary positions for patient transport, clerical staff, and cleaning staff, and is planning to create thousands more jobs to help fight COVID-19 and help those who have lost their income as a result of the pandemic. To apply, go to New York City’s coronavirus website (link above) under "Resources for New Yorkers." He also announced that a number of major private companies have partnered with the city to provide resources and support for remote learning. Apple is supplying 300,000 iPads, T-Mobile is supplying LTE internet and data plans, and companies like IBM are creating software and apps for students. For more information on remote learning, and to request an iPad, go to the NYC Schools website (link above) or call the 311 number. The Mayor urged New Yorkers to call 311 for other reasons, such as if they are in need of food or if their landlord is not complying with the freeze on evictions. As of Saturday at 5 PM, New York City had 98,715 confirmed cases and 5,742 deaths.

On Sunday morning, Governor Cuomo returned 35 ventilators to Pathways Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Niskayuna after they offered to allow hospitals to use them for COVID-19 patients. In a press conference that afternoon, he echoed Mayor de Blasio’s requests for more help and tests from the federal government, and announced two executive orders. The first order requires employers to provide essential workers with cloth or surgical face masks, and the second that expands who can conduct antibody tests in an effort to increase the number of people who have access to the testing.

On Sunday evening, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported there are 104,410 cases of the coronavirus in the city. There are 6,182 confirmed deaths according to data released by local officials.

In a Monday press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio shared data showing a slight downturn in COVID-19-related hospitalizations, ICU stays, and positive test cases. However, the mayor said these indicators would need to continue decreasing in order for the city to consider moving out of the “widespread transmission” phase of the epidemic. De Blasio also spoke about the eight million dollar educational media campaign that had been conducted thus far, and shared plans for the upcoming ten million dollar effort which will target 88 zip codes that have been highly impacted by the coronavirus. He went on to urge the NYC Rent Guidelines Board to enact a rent freeze, and urged the State to enact multiple measures to provide relief for struggling tenants. The mayor said that the city would provide free legal help to COVID-19 patients facing eviction and that he is also launching a hotline via 311 to assist renters in all five boroughs. Finally, de Blasio announced that alternate side parking would be suspended through April 28th. Later in the morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated somberly that 671 New York State residents died from COVID-19 on Sunday, raising the number of deaths to 10,056 total. The state has recorded 195,031 cases across New York since the beginning of the outbreak. He went on to speak about the roadmap for “reopening” regular business and public life, emphasizing that there's no "on/off" switch and that the decisions must be guided by experts in public health and economics. He said that other governors from the greater tri-state area would be meeting this afternoon to discuss further. He concluded by asking for New Yorkers to stay the course and continue measures to fight the coronavirus, despite the difficulty it brings. “We CAN control the spread,” Cuomo said. “Feel good about that.”

In a Monday afternoon press conference, Governor Cuomo held a conference call with Gov. Phil Murphy (New Jersey), Gov. Ned Lamont (Connecticut), Gov. Tom Wolf (Pennsylvania), Gov. John Carney (Delaware), and Gov. Gina Raimondo (Rhode Island) The group announced a new interstate initiative that will be coordinated between state governments along the I-95 corridor. The task force will work to develop a “reopening plan” for the region; each state will send a top public health official to join the group, in addition to an economic development official and each respective governor’s chief of staff. They will study the data, research the experience of other countries, and give guidelines and parameters going forward. Although Cuomo stressed that each state will likely need its own specialized plan, he said that the ultimate purpose of the initiative is to cooperate and learn across state borders so that “reopening” can be done in a responsible manner. Each governor spoke about the ongoing COVID-19 effort and expressed gratitude for the interstate coordination. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont emphasized the interconnected nature of the I-95 Metro North corridor, calling it the “COVID corridor” and warning against “pulling the trigger” too early on reopening. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo stressed that ongoing efforts against COVID-19 would be more successful with a coordinated approach on the regional level. “The virus doesn’t care about state borders,” Raimondo said. “Our response shouldn’t care either.” NYC Health has reported 106,813 total cases in New York City as of 9:30 AM this morning, with at least 6,182 deaths.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio reported that vital pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be produced within the five boroughs in large quantities. The city has secured a manufacturing contract for testing kits with a company based in Indiana. To supplement this, the city’s Economic Development Corporation is building a supply chain to build 50,000 test kits per week in New York City. Academic and commercial laboratories will produce the viral transport medium, and local manufacturers and 3D printers will produce testing swabs and tubes. If you believe that you can assist in the production of tests email TestHelp@edc.nyc.

In a Tuesday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke about the total number of hospitalizations across New York State; along with the net change by day, the data appears to be stabilizing. However, the state still reported 1,649 new COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, and deaths are “flat at a devastating level,” with 778 New Yorkers losing their lives on the same day. In total, 10,834 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded across the state. He also noted that the percentage of deaths occurring in nursing homes has been seeing an uptick. After sharing statistics, Cuomo reminded New Yorkers that “our actions today determine the infection rate tomorrow,” and urged for residents to stay the course and continue limiting the spread. Cuomo went on to briefly touch upon the new interstate council that was announced yesterday, and also spoke about the importance of the federal-state relationship. Cuomo also remarked that New York will need to ramp up its testing capacity in the future.

In a Wednesday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio detailed a new $170 million dollar plan to feed New Yorkers in need, which will add to the city’s existing food infrastructure. De Blasio said that the city has hired 11,000 TLC-commissioned drivers to deliver food to those who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot leave their homes. The Mayor went on to issue a new social distancing guidance to stores, recommending that they require customers to wear face coverings while inside. Afterwards, Food Czar Kathryn Garcia shared specific details about NYC’s food supply and the new initiatives. Over three million Grab & Go meals have been served at NYC schools, and the Department of Education is now serving 250,000 meals daily. The service is open to students, families, and adults alike. Over 300,000 meals have been delivered to seniors, with 25,000 meals daily. Finally, the city’s emergency delivery program has provided over one million meals for the vulnerable across NYC. Garcia added that the NYC food supply is currently stable; the city is also investing $50 million to fund 18 million shelf-stable meals in reserve if needed. She went on note that the city would coordinate vendors to help stores directly place orders for non-medical PPE. If you or anyone you know needs food, visit the NYC Food Help website (link above) or call the 311 line.

In a press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would begin testing 2,000 people per day for coronavirus antibodies. The governor is asking the FDA to approve a test that could allow New York to conduct antibody tests for 100,000 New Yorkers a day. The testing will prioritize healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers. Antibody testing will allow individuals to know whether or not they are resistant to the virus and is an essential step to eventually decreasing social distancing standards. New York continues to be the state that has tested most aggressively. According to the governor, the state has conducted over 500,000 tests so far. The governor is issuing an executive order stating that all people wear a face covering whenever they are in public and cannot maintain social distancing standards. The governor also announced that New York will be giving 100 ventilators to Michigan and 50 to Maryland.

As of Wednesday night, there are 111,424 cases in the city and 6,840 deaths. The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has begun including "probable" deaths in their coronavirus statistics. These are people who have died without a positive COVID-19 test, but have a death certificate that lists the disease as the cause. This methodology is based on the lack of initial testing. There are 4,059 probable deaths across the five boroughs.

In a press conference held Thursday afternoon in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York on PAUSE will continue through May 15th. The governor outlined the initial details of what he referred to as a “phased return to a new normal.” Businesses will be allowed to reopen on a phased priority scale based on the risk posed by opening them. Employers will be directed to develop new practices around workplace social distancing, transportation and interaction with customers. In a Thursday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio discussed recent cuts made to New York City’s budget. He noted that the city expects to lose $7.4 billion dollars in tax revenue, in addition to new costs arising from hospital and crisis food expenses. De Blasio asked for the federal government to provide more direct assistance to New York City. He went on to announce 11,000 free hotel rooms that will be opened for people who need to quarantine, such as healthcare workers or those in multigenerational households. Referrals for the program begin on Wednesday, April 22nd, and can be made through city hospitals and community health providers. De Blasio concluded by speaking about the lowered jail population in NYC, which is now fewer than 4,000 detainees after releases were made in light of the COVID-19 epidemic. On Thursday, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 117,565 total cases and 7,563 deaths across the city.

In a press conference held late Friday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he is signing an executive order directing all public and private laboratories in New York State to coordinate with the state Department of Health to ensure the prioritization of diagnostic testing across New York. The governor began outlining what a return to a new normal might look like, including a reimagined workspace with social distancing in mind. In an earlier press conference held Friday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city had hired an additional 120 311 operators to ease the historic call load throughout the crisis.

In a press conference held Saturday afternoon in Albany, Governor Cuomo acknowledged the fear, frustration and anxiety of the country. The governor stressed the importance of testing and called for collaboration and coordination with the federal government to improve distribution of crucial testing supplies. New York State hopes to use testing to aid in monitoring and controlling COVID-19 by tracing and isolating those infected and exposed. The federal government reportedly sent 1.5 million cloth masks to be distributed to the public statewide. It was also announced that an executive order will be signed today allowing for couples to receive their marriage certificate remotely and have video marriage ceremonies.

In a press conference on Sunday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 1,400 volunteer healthcare workers and 535 military medical personnel have been assigned to hospitals and nursing homes across the city. The mayor also asked those who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating blood to the New York Blood Center, where they are researching the use of plasma to aid current patients. In a press conference later that day, Governor Cuomo expressed that a safe and effective reopening involves using the lessons learned to improve government and infrastructure in New York, including healthcare, transportation, education, and social equity. Testing will continue to be a focus statewide, and New York will begin an antibody testing survey next week. Governor Cuomo also announced that New York is preparing to send as many as 400 ventilators to Massachusetts to assist their increase in cases.

In a Monday address, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said more surgical gowns are urgently needed in city hospitals. He urged the federal government and states with stockpiles to provide greater assistance with supplying gowns or the fabric to make them. The mayor said that the city will have manufactured 40,000 gowns this week but needs much more to combat the crisis. The mayor also announced that non-essential permitted events for the month of June are canceled, including major public events such as the Pride March and Puerto Rican Day Parade. De Blasio said his administration will work with the organizers of these events to hold them later in the year. The mayor said there were encouraging signs in the three major progress trackers. According to April 18 data, the number of people hospitalized for suspected COVID-19 dropped to 212 from 317 the day before. The number of people in ICUs for suspected COVID-19 was up slightly, at 853 ICU stays. The percentage of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in citywide and Public Health Lab testing also fell. The mayor said that while it’s not a perfect daily report, “it’s damn close to what we’re looking for.” The mayor closed with a plea to the president to sign a stimulus bill that would help the city as it expects spend $3.5 billion battling the outbreak.

In a Monday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would deliver more than 500,000 cloth masks to public housing communities, or at least one for every resident. The state will also deliver 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to these communities. Cuomo also announced a partnership between the state, local officials, and the healthcare service Ready Responders to bring COVID-19 testing and other services to residents in public housing. An initial pilot program will start at eight locations across NYC. While speaking about the need for federal assistance, the governor called for a 50% hazard pay bonus to frontline workers. He also noted that workers in this field are disproportionately made up of women, people of color, and members of low-income households. Cuomo said that while it appears New York is past the worst period of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, it’s unknown how long it will take for cases to come down and at what rate. He said that the number of deaths, though significantly lower than five days ago, remained “horrifically high,” reaching 478 on Sunday.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city had purchased 10,000 locally-produced “bridge” ventilators. These ventilators are for patients with less severe respiratory symptoms, allowing full-feature ventilators to be saved for patients who truly need them. The ventilators were produced by Boyce Technologies in Long Island City. The Mayor also announced five new community testing sites across the boroughs, for a total of ten. In a press conference held Tuesday morning in Buffalo, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that hospitals in less affected parts of the state will be able to resume elective outpatient treatment. On Tuesday, NYC Health reported 134,874 total cases and 9,562 confirmed deaths in the city.

In a Wednesday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced six new testing sites that will prioritize NYCHA residents; three will be opening this Friday, and are located at various hospitals. The next three will be opening next week, and are located at NYCHA complexes. The mayor also said that face coverings and gloves will be distributed to all NYCHA residents. Door-to-door meal distribution will be expanded for all senior buildings, and personal hand sanitizer will also be distributed to thousands of elderly residents. The city will also be investing $5 million to provide free tablets and internet service to 10,000 NYCHA seniors to aid in keeping them connected with loved ones. In a press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would be coordinating with Johns Hopkins University, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others to create a comprehensive regional contact tracing program. The state will draw from CUNY and SUNYs pool of 35,000 students in medical fields to serve as tracing agents. On Wednesday, NYC health officials reported 138,435 total cases and 9,944 confirmed deaths in the city.

In a Thursday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo gave preliminary results for a statewide COVID-19 antibody survey that was taken by 3,000 New Yorkers. The survey was collected at grocery stores and other box stores over two days. Across the state, 13.9% tested positive for the COVID-19 antibodies. In New York City, 21.2% tested positive. Cuomo stressed that the results are preliminary, and that the only people screened were residents who were out of their homes. However, those who tested positive for the antibody (i.e., who had the virus and recovered or never got sick) could potentially donate convalescent plasma for sick individuals. Cuomo also detailed COVID-19-specific laws for nursing homes, and announced that the State Department of Health will be investigating violations of Executive Orders requiring communication with families on COVID-19 results and deaths. Today, nursing homes will be directed to immediately report actions they have taken to comply with all DoH and CDC directives. Earlier in the morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City is prepared to serve over half a million meals during Ramadan via grab-and-go meal sites. Over 32 sites in neighborhoods with high need will be expanded to offer Halal meals. Overall, 25% capacity will be added to these sites for the month of Ramadan. As of Thursday afternoon, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 141,754 confirmed cases and 10,290 related deaths.

In a Friday morning address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state of New York appears to be on the downside of the COVID-19 curve, as hospitalizations, intubations and deaths are down since the height of the crisis. But the number of hospitalizations hovered around 1,300 per day for the fourth straight day, and the number of lives lost per day remains above 400 There were 422 deaths in the state on Thursday, the lowest number since April 1st. The governor said that the factor in determining how long the crisis lasts depends on what people do next and warned that reopening without following proper measures could cause infections to spike higher than ever. As he turned the subject to voting, Cuomo said he was issuing an executive order to make sure every New Yorker receives a postage-paid application to vote absentee in the June 23 primaries. He said that polling places would remain open. Earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio called for state action to support tenants facing hardships during the crisis. The mayor said the state should grant approval to pay rent with a security deposit, allow tenants who miss rent to repay over 12 months, and extend the eviction moratorium 60 days beyond the coronavirus crisis. De Blasio also repeated his call to freeze rent in rent-stabilized apartments, a matter which is determined by the Rent Guidelines Board. The mayor urged anyone facing issues concerning housing or COVID-19 to call 311.

In a press conference held Saturday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would be expanding its diagnostic criteria so that first responders, healthcare workers and other essential workers can all get tested. The governor signed an executive order allowing all of New York State’s pharmacies to act as testing collection sites. Those who qualify for testing will be able to go to their local pharmacy to give a sample that will then be sent off to a lab. The state will be conducting antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers at Bellevue Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Montefiore and SUNY Downstate. The state plans to conduct antibody testing on transit workers, NYPD and State Police next week.

In a Sunday morning press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio discussed plans surrounding reopening New York City. The mayor said the effort will be driven by science, data, and concern for public health. He announced a task force on racial inclusion and equity that engages the hardest-hit, disproportionately affected communities and works to address long-standing racial and economic disparities. This task force will reportedly be led by First Lady Chirlane McCray and Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson. A Fair Recovery Task Force was also announced, and will be comprised of civic leaders with the goal of rebuilding a stronger, safer, and fairer economy and society. The Fair Recovery Task Force will reportedly present a preliminary plan in June. Mayor de Blasio also announced that he will appoint a Charter Revision Commission to further efforts for fair structural changes and recovery.

In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Governor Cuomo outlined a two-phase plan for reopening New York State. In accordance with the CDC guidance, reopening will not begin until state and regional hospitalization rates are in decline for 14 days. In Phase I, construction and manufacturing with a low risk of transmitting the virus will resume. In Phase II, lower risk and essential businesses will be able to reopen. The businesses that are able to reopen may be on a case-by-case basis as businesses must design a “new normal” to reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Two weeks will be allotted between each phase in order to monitor the effects on the rate of transmission. The governor noted that reopening efforts will give special attention to public housing, low-income communities, food banks, and childcare. He also called for the creation of summer activities that will not risk public health and announced that the L Train Tunnel construction has been completed.

An update from the New York City Department of Health shows that there are 153,204 confirmed cases and 11,460 confirmed deaths.

In a Monday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City would begin implementing self-swab testing at hospitals. The new tests will allow for people to swab their own noses to collect a sample for lab analysis, in addition to giving a saliva sample. De Blasio said that the two samples provide enough information for an accurate COVID-19 test. As opposed to the more elaborate swab used in prior test kits, the new method also allows for healthcare workers to be less hands-on with the patient, mitigating the risk of spread. De Blasio also said that the city is hiring 1,000 contact tracers to assist in the upcoming testing and tracing effort. The job requires a background in health, and will entail interviewing and identifying contacts of COVID-19 patients in order to connect them to isolation and support. Finally, de Blasio announced that the city plans on enacting at least 40 miles of “open streets” over the next month, which will close the roads to traffic and ideally provide more space for walking and exercise.

On Monday, Governor Cuomo gave an update on the COVID-19 antibody survey being conducted across the state. Preliminary results showed that 14.9% of 7,500 people surveyed tested positive for the coronavirus antibody. Among those surveyed in NYC, 24.7% tested positive for the antibody. Cuomo stressed that each region will face its own set of facts to inform their respective reopening plans. He also said that the survey will be given to an additional 3,000 healthcare workers and 1,000 transit workers this week. In addition, the survey will be expanded to test 1,000 FDNY and 1,000 NYPD service members. The governor went on to detail the “Nourish New York” initiative which will purchase food products from upstate farms for distribution at food banks across the state. Cuomo also announced that the state is committing $25 million dollars for emergency funding in food banks and providers most impacted by the coronavirus. He asked for any philanthropists to help the COVID-19 effort by emailing the state’s director of nonprofits (link above) On Monday, the NYC Department of Health reported 156,100 total cases and 11,708 deaths.

In a Tuesday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo went over the “Un-PAUSE Regional Analysis” for New York State. He said that construction and manufacturing industries would open first, but that precautions would need to be taken in the workplace. In addition to implementing a widespread testing regimen, Cuomo estimated that at least 30 contact tracers will be needed per 100,000 people. He also announced that the state will be creating the NY Forward Reopening Advisory Board. The Board will include 100 business, community and civic leaders to help guide New York’s reopening strategy. In an earlier press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced steps that New York City’s public school system would take to ensure continuity of education for all students. High school students will be able to take courses on a pass/fail model, and will be able to take more time to complete courses should they need it. Additionally, the mayor announced that the city would be hosting a star-studded, virtual graduation ceremony for all graduating seniors and their families. On Tuesday afternoon, the NYC Department of Health reported 157,713 total cases and 11,820 confirmed deaths.

In a press conference held Wednesday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would begin testing MTA employees for COVID-19 The state has also begun testing New York City first responders for antibodies. 10.5% Of NYPD members who have been tested were positive for COVID-19 antibodies, as were 17.1% of FDNY/EMS personnel. In an earlier press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would begin moving 1,000 people from homeless shelters to commercial hotels each week. He also announced that the city would be working with military trauma specialists to combat stress-related issues that frontline healthcare workers are experiencing. Additionally, healthcare workers and first responders will be able to get antibody tests at hospitals, firehouses, police stations and corrections facilities. On Wednesday, the NYC Department of Health reported 159,865 total cases and 12,287 total deaths in the city.

In a Thursday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a new plan for the MTA in light of the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Trains and buses will now be disinfected every 24 hours, and MTA subway service will stop from 1 AM - 5 AM to allow for full cleaning. The MTA will provide free transportation via buses, for-hire vehicles, and other services for essential workers who commute during these hours. The LIRR and Metro North will also be disinfected every day without service disruption. Cuomo also spoke about the impending contact tracing plan, and invited Michael Bloomberg—the leader of the program—to speak about the efforts. Johns Hopkins University will work in consultation with the NYS Department of Health to develop a world-class curriculum and training program. In an earlier press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that a new supply of surgical gowns have been secured for NYC. One million gowns have arrived on US shores and 900,000 more are being loaded onto planes in Vietnam bound for the city. Three million more gowns have also been purchased. De Blasio announced that over 1,000 full time staff will be assigned to enforce social distancing and educate residents in parks and public spaces. Next week, all eleven NYC Hospitals community testing sites will open. He also noted that NYC is tripling their testing capacity at these sites. In addition, the city will be distributing face coverings in parks for free. Visit NYC's government website for location and times. As of Thursday afternoon, the NYC Department of Health reported 162,212 total cases and 12,571 confirmed deaths in the city.

In a press conference held Friday morning in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that schools and colleges in New York State will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. A decision on summer school programming has not yet been reached, but the governor has promised to have more information on the matter by the end of May. Schools will continue to provide meal service and childcare for children of essential workers. Governor Cuomo stressed the importance of mental health awareness during this trying time. He reminded New Yorkers that the New York State Emotional Support Hotline can be reached at 1-844-863-9314 at no cost to you. New York State is directing insurers to waive all cost sharing, copays and deductibles for mental health services for essential workers for the duration of this crisis.

In a press conference held Saturday morning in Queens, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he would be directing hospitals to collect a greater degree of demographic information on COVID-19 patients. The governor wants hospitals to collect information on residence, age, gender, race, ethnicity, comorbidities and method of travel for work in an attempt to pin down where most new cases are occurring. The state will also be distributing 7 million masks across the state to the most vulnerable New Yorkers, particularly those who live in nursing homes and NYCHA housing. The state is also distributing $25 million in New York State sourced products to food banks statewide.

In a press conference on Sunday morning, Mayor de Blasio urged New Yorkers to continue wearing masks and gave three case studies of countries who experienced a “boomerang effect”, or a spike in cases of COVID-19, after reopening. The mayor announced that test kits produced in New York City will contain locally produced 3D-printed swabs and Viral Transport Medium, the fluid that swabs are placed in when sent to labs. Print Parts will reportedly produce 50,000 of these 3D-printed swabs per week and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine will produce the Viral Transport Medium. While the GetFood Delivery Assistance Program currently has a capacity of distributing 3.1 million meals per week, Mayor de Blasio stated that the goal is to reach distribution of 1 million meals per day, and expressed a need for commercial kitchens, nonprofit providers, and kitchen, management, and delivery staff.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a new regional purchasing consortium with seven states to procure PPE, tests, ventilators, and other medical equipment to increase market power and bring down prices. The group includes New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Massachusetts. Cuomo also said that the NY Department of Health will require each hospital to build a supply of PPE that could last at least 90 days in the event of another COVID-19 surge. He cited how the state's "surge + flex" plan has created a "de facto public hospital system", but then noted how establishing a consistent supply will make for less of a "scramble" between hospitals. Cuomo went on to urge New Yorkers to continue wearing a face covering in public to prevent another wave of the coronavirus in New York. On Sunday, the NYC Department of Health reported 168,845 total cases and 13,319 total deaths in the city.

In a Monday morning address, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is entering its first week since March with a sufficient supply of PPE at healthcare facilities. The city is continuing to send large supplies to nursing homes where it’s most needed. He said his administration has a goal of creating and maintaining a 90-day stockpile of PPE for future spikes. De Blasio also announced that the city will begin distributing 7.5 million face coverings (5 million 3-ply masks, reusable if kept dry; 2.5 million washable cloth masks) at various sites, including public housing, parks, grocery stores, meal pick-up sites, and more. The mayor also said the city will provide iPads to students with disabilities in non-public schools, adding that the education department has identified 35,000 eligible students. Finally, the mayor said that three major progress indicators are moving in the right direction, with decreases in coronavirus hospitalizations, ICU stays, and the percentage of people testing positive for the virus.

In a Monday press conference, Governor Cuomo discussed the data-driven factors that will dictate how each region conducts its respective re-opening. He explained the concept of “Rt”, which is a value that indicates how many secondary infections are likely to occur from a single infection in an area. Values over 1.0 mean the rate of transmission is increasing, while values under 1.0 indicate the rate is slowing. Cuomo went on to outline reopening guidelines based on the CDC’s recommendations. Regions must have at least 14 days of decline in total hospitalizations and deaths on a 3-day rolling average, and regions with fewer COVID-19 cases cannot exceed 15 new total cases or five new deaths on that same average. Each region must also have at least 30% of their total hospital and ICU beds open, in addition to at least 90 days worth of PPE stockpiled. Cuomo went on to note how 1 million New Yorkers have been tested thus far; currently, New York is doing more diagnostic tests per capita than any other state or nation. He said that each region must have 30 tests for every 1,000 residents as part of the reopening criteria. A baseline of 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 residents must also be established. Businesses will reopen on a phased basis, starting with integral industries such as construction and ending with entertainment and recreation. The NYC Department of Health reported 170,534 total cases and 13,536 total confirmed deaths on Monday.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning in his Manhattan office, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would be working with the Gates Foundation to develop a blueprint that will “reimagine education in the new normal” after the Coronavirus pandemic subsides. The governor assured New Yorkers that the state’s reopening plan does not factor in a tradeoff between human life and economic resurgence in New York. A human life is “priceless,” the governor said. He urged the federal government to put politics aside and pass bi-partisan legislation to support the states. In an earlier press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that daily hospital admissions relating to COVID-19 in New York City have begun to slow to under 100 new hospitalizations a day.

In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 10 Sector Advisory Councils will work to create plans and guidelines for a safe reopening in sectors such as small business, arts, culture, and tourism, faith-based organizations, and construction and real estate. Each council will involve 20 to 40 members led by deputy mayors and heads of city agencies. He also stated that on Tuesday night, 252 homeless individuals on the subway were engaged by outreach workers and specially-trained NYPD officers and 139 of these individuals accepted support and moved into a shelter. In a later press conference held Wednesday on Long Island, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the initial findings from the state’s intensive demographic data collection initiative regarding new hospitalizations. 66% Of newly hospitalized patients are non-essential workers who have primarily spent their time at home. 96% Of all hospitalized patients suffered from some form of comorbidity. These findings are based on three days of data collected across 100 hospitals. The governor announced that former Google CEO Eric Schmidt would chair the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission to reimagine New York's healthcare and education systems.

In a press conference held Thursday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state’s moratorium on evictions would be extended through August 20th. He also banned late payments and fees for missed payments and ordered that tenants be allowed to use their security deposits as rent payments. In an earlier press conference held Thursday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would be launching a free phone-a-clinician telehealth hotline at 844-NYC-4NYC. NYC Health + Hospitals hopes to move 80% of all walk-in visits to telehealth in the coming weeks. Additionally, the mayor announced that antibody testing would soon be available to 140,000 New Yorkers at locations in Morrisania, East New York, Upper Manhattan, Concord, and Long Island City. The testing will be by appointment through a hotline. Each site can test approximately 1,000 people per day. The mayor addressed concerns about homeless individuals displaced due to the MTA’s new closure policy. Of 361 people who were approached by outreach staff, 218 of them accepted services, with 196 moving to a shelter and 22 to a hospital. The mayor also announced that the city would be putting together a task force to address domestic and gender-based violence in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press conference held Friday morning in Poughkeepsie, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that there is increasing evidence of serious COVID-19 complications in young children. One five-year-old boy passed away in New York City from these complications, and the state is investigating several other cases. Seek care immediately if your child has a prolonged fever for more than five days, is too sick to drink fluids, is experiencing severe abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting, a change in skin color, trouble breathing, chest pain, a decreased amount of urine, lethargy, irritability or confusion. In a Friday morning briefing, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the formation of the Test and Trace Corps, a task force which will lead the effort to expand testing capacity and oversee a large staff of contact tracers. The group plans to expand the city’s testing to 20,000 tests at 33 sites by May 25, and 50,000 tests at more than 300 sites within a few months. By June, De Blasio said, the agency would hire 2,500 public health “foot soldiers” who will investigate cases, trace and monitor contacts, and manage all case data inquiries. The city has reportedly received nearly 7,000 applications for this role, which are being evaluated. De Blasio also said that the city is partnering with Salesforce to deploy a call center and case management system to support the test and trace effort, which will be operational on June 1 The Corps will also provide hotel rooms for any New Yorkers requiring isolation and monitoring, and by June 1 will make 200 rooms available. The mayor also said the city would begin experimenting with ways to improve social distancing at parks where it has been a challenge. At Hudson River Park Piers 45 and 46, NYPD officers and other agents will begin limiting the number of people allowed into the park and monitoring capacity. The city will also increase NYPD presence and monitoring at Domino Park in Brooklyn. Finally, the mayor said that more than 500 homeless individuals accepted services over the past three days, results he described as "historic."

Gov. Cuomo announced the state would be working with the NY Genome Center and the Rockefeller University to conduct a genome and RNA sequencing study to better understand the serious COVID-19 related complications that have been seen in several young children in New York. Three children have lost their lives to these complications. The state is partnering with Northwell Health to establish 24 temporary testing sites at churches in predominantly minority communities in an attempt to provide relief to underserved New Yorkers. There are 177,481 cases of coronavirus in NYC and 14,482 deaths caused by COVID-19 complications. Statewide, there are 333,122 cases and 21,271 deaths.

Although the "NY on PAUSE" directives have not been officially extended beyond the May 15, 2020 deadline, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed two executive orders extending the legal authority underlying the restrictions until June 7th. The governor outlined a region-by-region approach to re-opening should a municipality meet certain benchmarks.

In his Sunday coronavirus briefing, Mayor Bill de Blasio asked for the federal government to provide NYC additional doses of newly FDA-approved emergency-use drugs for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. He said that initial clinical trials showed that the drug—known as Remdesivir—decreased the hospital stay from 15 days to 11 days in severely ill coronavirus patients. De Blasio went on to announce that health insurance will be extended for the surviving families of city employees that have passed away from COVID-19 complications. The 45-day extension was at the request of the Municipal Labor Committee, in light of at least 260 public servants losing their lives in the COVID-19 fight. The city will fight for additional benefits for these families in the next stimulus bill. De Blasio also reported 38 cases of what doctors are now calling “Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome” in NYC children, with nine more cases pending investigation. He said that the symptoms include a persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain, and vomiting, and urged parents who observe these symptoms in their children to call a medical professional and seek help. Out of the initial 38 cases, 47% of those tested positive for COVID-19, and 81% others had antibodies. Among other measures that will be taken by the city, NYC hospitals will be testing all children with symptoms for COVID-19 antibodies. De Blasio also noted that the city will increase civilian Social Distancing Ambassadors from 1,000 to 2,300 total. The team will continue to increase education and outreach in their respective communities. Finally, De Blasio also announced that more than half of homeless New Yorkers engaged by city outreach workers accepted services on Friday and Saturday night.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 within the state’s nursing home population. Nursing homes which cannot provide adequate care for an individual must contact the state’s Department of Health to set up a transfer. Additionally, a hospital cannot discharge any patient to a nursing home unless they test negative for coronavirus. Cuomo said that the state will not reduce its hospital bed capacity until the pandemic is over so that they can take care of a person if a nursing home cannot. He also said that all nursing home staff must receive a diagnostic test twice a week. Any nursing home that does not follow these regulations will lose their license. Echoing Mayor de Blasio from earlier in the morning, Cuomo said that the NYS Department of Health is currently investigating up to 85 cases of what may be a COVID-related inflammatory illness in children toddler-aged through elementary school. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers, and the DOH is currently investigating an additional two deaths. The department will be issuing a notice to every other state health department to notify them of the situation. Cuomo also said he would address the regional reopening plan tomorrow, as the statewide PAUSE order is set to expire at the end of the week. The state will be inviting county and local officials to discuss Monday. On Sunday, the NYC Department of Health reported 178,766 total cases and 14,753 total deaths in the city.

In a Monday morning address, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio explained how his administration would support community health providers in neighborhoods worst affected by coronavirus. De Blasio said the city would supply clinics with hundreds of thousands of masks and gloves per week; open access to hundreds of volunteers through the Medical Reserve Corps; provide weekly tele-health training; evaluate clinics' capacity to help with a “test and trace” initiative; and apply for federal funding. On the topic of homelessness, De Blasio said that homeless outreach workers successfully offered services to 139 homeless individuals on the subway system Sunday night, with 116 people moving to shelters, and that the city was moving towards its goal of creating space in shelters by transferring homeless individuals into empty hotel rooms. On the topic of Alternate Side Parking, the mayor said it will resume May 18th for a weeklong citywide cleaning and again be suspended from May 25th to June 7th. On the topic of hate crimes, the mayor revealed that two perpetrators were arrested Sunday night after ripping the masks off members of the Jewish community walking down the street in South Williamsburg. He warned that anyone who commits acts of hate toward any community will immediately face the consequences. The mayor wrapped up by noting that three indicators of progress in the city’s COVID-19 response showed positive signs, as related hospitalizations and ICU stays and the percentage of people who tested positively all trended downward.

In a Monday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo discussed the criteria his administration has established for phased reopening by region. Regions must meet seven unique metrics in order to reopen; among the list includes a 14-day decline in hospitalizations, and a 14-day decline in hospitalized deaths. There must be an adequate share of bed and ICU beds available. Cuomo said that each region will have its own “Regional Control Room” in order to monitor progress and slow down the activity level if the virus re-emerges. He asked local officials in attendance to prepare their individual plans for May 15th, when the NY PAUSE order is set to expire. As it stands, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, and the Southern Tier of New York can reopen on May 15th. New York City has met four out of the seven criteria. Cuomo went on to announce that the state will allow certain low-risk activities and business to resume across New York on Friday. Landscaping and gardening will be permitted once again, in addition to outdoor, low-risk recreational activities such as tennis. Drive-in movie theaters will also be opened. All retail will be authorized to do curbside pickup, and drop-off or in-store pickup. Essential retail will continue operating under the current protocols. Cuomo also announced that an additional 161 New Yorkers have passed away from COVID-19 complications, which is the lowest daily death toll since March 27th. The number of new hospitalizations is also at its lowest since March 19th. On Monday night, New York City updated its total case numbers to include about 3,600 new cases that were previously not counted due to missing address information. Most were diagnosed in March or April.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city’s current testing capacity was around 14 thousand tests per day. The mayor announced the city would be opening up 12 new sites over the next two weeks, starting with sites in Midwood and Washington Heights. The city is currently training the first 535 members of its “tracing army,” and plans to hire thousands more. The mayor spoke about the new challenges presented by Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, which has taken the life of one young New York City resident to date. There have been 52 confirmed cases in children, 25 of which tested positive for COVD-19, and 22 of which tested positive for the antibodies. “Early detection,” the mayor said, “makes all the difference.” The mayor told parents of young New Yorkers that if their child has at least one of the following symptoms; persistent fever, a rash, abdominal pain or vomiting, and is generally “not themselves,” to contact a healthcare professional immediately.

In a Tuesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported that the state is now investigating approximately 100 cases of an inflammatory illness in children that may be related to the coronavirus. The ages of these cases range from infancy to age 21, and the illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers; a 5-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old girl. Parents should seek care immediately if your child has a prolonged fever of more than five days, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting, a skin color changed to pale, patchy, and/or blue, trouble breathing, racing heart or chest pain, a decreased amount or frequency of urine, or lethargy, irritability, or confusion. Governor Cuomo also discussed the phased regional reopening plan and directed residents to a new dashboard where the progress indicators of each region are tracked. The dashboard can be found in the above URL. Cuomo went on to urge the federal government to direct their funding focus on state and local governments, testing and tracing programs, and an economic stimulus that helps working Americans, rather than bailing out corporations. He said that he and Maryland governor Larry Hogan will issue a joint statement regarding federal funding. Cuomo also spoke about his new “Americans First” law proposal. The law would strip corporations of government funding if they do not rehire the same number of employees that were hired pre-pandemic. There are 184,319 cases of coronavirus and 15,101 related deaths in New York City. There are 338,485 cases statewide and 21,845 deaths.

In a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mayor de Blasio discussed the newly proposed House federal stimulus bill that would designate $17 billion to New York City over two years and provide food assistance, housing, transit support, line of duty benefits, and hazard pay for essential workers. He also announced that 12 miles will be added to Open Streets on Thursday, and 9.2 miles of protected bike lanes will open throughout May. The mayor provided an update on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, which includes symptoms such as persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Currently, 82 children have been diagnosed with the syndrome, 53 of whom tested positive for COVID-19 or antibodies. A multilingual campaign will be launched today to inform parents of the signs, symptoms, and actions to take. 370 Homeless New Yorkers were engaged by city outreach workers on Tuesday night, 178 of whom accepted services and were brought to a shelter, and 35 others were transported to hospitals.

In a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported that the state is investigating 102 cases of a new potentially COVID-related illness in children. So far, 14 other states and five European countries have reported cases. The predominant symptoms of the illness are a prolonged fever of more than five days, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting, bloodshot eyes, and a skin rash. Cuomo said that while they believe the illness to be rare, parents should seek care immediately if your child shows these symptoms. The Department of Health will be partnering with the NY Genome Center and Rockefeller University to conduct a genome and RNA sequencing study to better understand COVID-19 related illnesses in children and the possible genetic basis of this syndrome. Cuomo also shared new results for an antibody test given to frontline workers across the state. The surveyed groups of NYPD and FDNY/EMT members, downstate transit workers, and downstate healthcare workers tested lower for antibodies than the surveyed general population, which tested at 19.9% positive. State correctional officers and police also tested lower than the NYS general population, which was recorded at 12.3% "That should give us all some peace of mind," Cuomo said. "The essential workers out there [are] doing fantastic work for us, and we've made sure they were protected." Cuomo also announced that elective surgery will be opening in 12 more counties. He then went over his proposed “Americans First” law that would ensure that corporate subsidies are tied to worker retention in a post-pandemic world. He also reminded residents of the publicly-available state Regional Monitoring Dashboard, where reopening progress indicators can be tracked. There are 185,206 cases in NYC and 15,233 deaths. There are 340,661 cases statewide and 22,013 deaths.

In a press conference held Thursday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city was expanding its COVID-19 testing criteria. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 regardless of age, occupation and chronic conditions should seek testing. Additionally, anyone with a known exposure to a confirmed patient and anyone who works in a congregate residential setting should seek testing. Congregate residential settings include nursing homes, shelters and adult care facilities. The city has identified 100 cases of Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in young New Yorkers. 55 Of these patients tested positive for COVID-19 or antibodies.

In a press conference held Thursday afternoon in Syracuse, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the Central New York, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and North Country regions of New York State had met the requirements necessary to enter into phase one of the state’s reopening plan. The governor said that the state would post a daily dashboard tracking each region’s qualifications for the different phases of reopening. The state has reported 110 cases of Multi-System Inflammatory Disease in New Yorkers aged 21 and younger. The governor said that 16 other states, Washington D.C. and six European countries have recorded cases as well.

In a press conference held Friday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would be purchasing over 74,000 air conditioners for low-income seniors in New York City to help them stay cool inside through the summer. The mayor also said that the city is working to make sure that cooling centers are appropriately staffed and stocked with personal protective equipment. The Parks Department will be creating what the mayor is calling “misting oases” in public seating areas, while the Department of Environmental Protection is creating a plan for scheduled hydrant openings. The Mayor also announced that the city will be working closely with ConEd to minimize summer power outages. The mayor addressed concerns regarding social distancing enforcement, stating that the NYPD would continue to enforce the ban on non-essential gatherings, prioritizing dispersing groups of 6 or more adults. The NYPD will be limiting access to the Sheep Meadow in Central Park and Piers 45 and 46 at Hudson River Park.

In a press conference held Friday afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced “NY on PAUSE” would be extended to May 28th for regions of the state that have not met the benchmarks required for reopening, including the five boroughs. Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and North Country are allowed to begin a phased reopening Friday. New York City, the Capital Region, Long Island, Mid-Hudson and Western New York have yet to meet the benchmarks required to begin reopening. In addition, the governor signed an executive order late Thursday night extending the state of emergency stay-at-home order to June 13th, allowing the state more time to work with regions on local reopening plans. There are 186,293 coronavirus cases and 15,349 deaths in the city. There are 345,813 cases statewide and 22,304 deaths statewide.

In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Gov. Cuomo discussed regional reopening efforts. In some counties in upstate New York, elective surgeries and ambulatory care are now allowed to resume. Some race tracks will be able to open without spectators. The governor also spoke about the $3 trillion relief bill passed by the House of Representatives on Friday which, if passed in the Senate, will allocate $500 billion to state governments and $375 billion to local governments. The bill would provide relief to New York State's $61 billion deficit and provide funding for testing, Medicaid, SNAP food benefits, and other important government-funded agencies and resources. There are 189,031 and 15,756 deaths. There are 348,232 cases statewide and 22,478 deaths.

In a press conference on Sunday morning, Mayor de Blasio announced that the City of New York is partnering with CityMD to provide 6,000 COVID-19 tests per day in their 123 sites across all 5 boroughs. CityMD will cover the cost of testing for uninsured patients, and is open for walk-ins 7 days per week. Citywide, testing capacity has reportedly reached 20,000 tests per day and 140,000 free antibody tests will be available by appointment at one of five locations. To learn more, or to register for testing, visit the link above. The New York Blood Center is requesting donations of blood, as it has only a two-day supply remaining. The mayor also provided updates on the Test & Trace Corps, which expects to start 100 Contact Tracers the week of May 24th. 500 Contact Tracers have completed Johns Hopkins training, and another 1,000 are in progress. The Test and Trace Corps will also deploy Resource Navigators, who will connect anyone isolating at home with food, medication, phones, toiletries, and mental health resources. An update on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome shows that 137 cases have been detected in the city, with 66 of these affected children testing positive for COVID-19 or antibodies. The mayor stated that beaches will not fully open for Memorial Day, as swimming will remain prohibited and social distancing regulations must be followed. Walking or exercising on the beach will be allowed with a reduced number of entrances and increased patrol and police presence. He also warned that if social distancing and no-swim rules are not observed, the beaches will be closed entirely. The eventual reopening of the beaches is contingent on further reduction of COVID-19 and resumption of non-essential activity and travel.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged the mental health struggle that many have experienced during the pandemic. He reminded residents of the NY State Emotional Support Hotline that can be reached at 1-844-863-9314, and also of New York’s partnership with Headspace, a mental health and wellness app. Cuomo went on to announce a new partnership with CVS, bringing testing to more than 60 CVS sites across the state. These sites will be able to conduct around 50 tests per day. New York State currently has more than 700 testing sites, and has been testing at the highest rate per capita of any state or nation. Cuomo emphasized that all New Yorkers with symptoms can now get tested, and noted an additional expansion that allows testing for any individual who would return to their workplace during Phase 1 of reopening. He announced a new website that is being launched to help people find testing sites. Residents can visit the link above and enter their home address to find sites nearby. The State has also provided data to Google Maps to display testing site results, which can be found by searching “COVID testing near me.”

In a Monday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that his administration plans on assembling over 60,000 NYC-produced test kits weekly by June 1st. He announced an initiative to provide antibody testing for over 140,000 healthcare workers and first responders. The tests will be offered at hospitals, firehouses, police stations, and corrections facilities. The program is being funded by the US Dept. Of Health & Human Services and the CDC, and will start with members of the FDNY including EMTs and firefighters. Sign up by texting “TestNYC” to 78378 or by using the above link. De Blasio also reported that the CDC has released a new case definition for what is now called Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C. The CDC has confirmed that there is a link to COVID-19, and the NYC Department of Health will be reviewing cases reported in NYC with this new definition in mind. He urged residents and parents of children to continue good hygiene, face coverings, and social distancing in order to protect the city’s youth. The last updated list of symptoms includes a persistent fever, irritability or sluggishness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting, rash, conjunctivitis, enlarged lymph node “gland” on one side of the neck, red cracked lips or red tongue, or swollen hands and feet. The city has had 145 reported cases using the initial definition, and will have an updated number of cases later this week under the MIS-C definition. De Blasio also said that alternate side parking would resume today until the 23rd, after which it will again be suspended through June 7th.

In a Monday press conference, Governor Cuomo announced that NY would be sending 320,000 testing kits to nursing homes statewide to ensure that staff can be tested twice each week. He reminded residents that the state has continued to increase its testing capacity overall, and that anyone with symptoms can get a test. He also said that Western New York will begin Phase 1 of reopening Tuesday once they finalize their contact tracers. Judges and staff will be returning to courthouses in 30 upstate counties starting this week. Cuomo also encouraged major sports teams in NY to plan reopening without fans. He said that the state has brought on two international experts to guide the response: Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at University of Minnesota, who will review data and progress; and Dr. Samir Bhatt, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London, who will advise on geostatistics. Cuomo also shared the latest COVID-19 statistics in NY; although the number of daily deaths is still high, the overall trend remains down. On May 17th, 106 New Yorkers passed away from COVID-19 complications. Hospitalizations and new cases remain on a downtrend. Cuomo also reported that he himself tested negative for the coronavirus.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined some of the city’s plans for summer school and programming for children and teens in New York City. The city expects 177,700 students to enroll in summer learning programs, which will be held remotely using a combination of live and pre-recorded lessons, small group lessons and one-on-one check-ins. Lessons will cover math and english language arts, and students will participate in enrichment activities including virtual field trips, community building and social emotional learning. The city is partnering with media organizations, libraries, museums and others to launch new resources and activities for the city’s youths. So far, the city has distributed 284,000 internet-enabled devices to children who need them. The mayor also asked New Yorkers to consider donating blood if they can, citing a citywide blood shortage. The mayor said that the city supports line-of-duty death benefits for survivors of municipal employees who have died of COVID-19, and will help advance state-legislature to make it happen.

In a Tuesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the Capital region will be able to enter Phase 1 of reopening Wednesday. He said that the state will allow Memorial Day ceremonies with 10 people or less, at the discretion of local governments. Cuomo also announced a two-week hospital visitation pilot program that is being implemented in 16 hospitals across the state. The program will allow increased visitations for family members and loved ones. Visits will be time-limited. Visitors must wear personal protective equipment and are subject to symptom and temperature checks. Cuomo encouraged NY sports teams to resume fan-less operations to the extent that their economic outlook allows it. He went on to urge the federal government to provide more funding for state and local governments, citing how he and Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland are calling on Congress to pass $500 billion in state fiscal relief. Although a vaccine for COVID-19 has not yet been produced, Cuomo requested the federal government to ensure that pharmaceutical corporations will release rights to a vaccine for immediate widespread distribution once it is found.

On Wednesday morning, Mayor de Blasio discussed the response to COVID-19 in the city’s 169 nursing homes. He announced that the city will offer on-site testing for residents and staff, with the hopes of testing residents weekly. Mandatory testing for nursing home staff has begun, and those who test positive are required to stay out of work for 14 days. 240 People have already been staffed in nursing homes across the city to make up for staffing shortages, and 10 outbreak response teams led by epidemiologists will be implemented to help with infection control, PPE management, resident and staff retesting, and mental health. Mayor de Blasio also called for a future shift to home-based care, and stated that creating a plan to make home care accessible will be part of recovery planning. The mayor stated that New York City now has sufficient PPE supply through May, and by the end of the year will have a 90-day supply of PPE and 4,000 full-service ventilators in reserve. He also reported that vaccination rates for children have fallen due to circumstances surrounding the pandemic and stay at home order. He urged parents and guardians to vaccinate children, and noted that free vaccines are offered at over 1,000 NYC facilities as part of the Vaccines for Children program. To learn more and make an appointment, call 844-NYC-4NYC.

In a press conference held Wednesday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stressed once again that all New Yorkers wear a mask in public, citing higher rates of infection among the general population than among essential workers. The governor also addressed high rates of infection among lower-income communities and communities of color. He said 43% of people tested in Morrisania in the Bronx were found to have antibodies, whereas only 19.9% of the general New York City did. The governor is directing all local governments to test in low-income communities and develop outreach programs. Additionally, the city will be expanding its testing in public housing, churches, and community centers. There are 192,374 cases of coronavirus and 16,153 deaths. There are 354,370 cases statewide and 22,976 deaths.

In a Thursday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio brought on Food Czar Kathryn Garcia to discuss the food milestones NYC has reached during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has served 32 million meals across all programs since the COVID-19 crisis began. By next week, the city expects to serve over 1 million meals per day via emergency food delivery. Garcia said that the city has ensured quality and variety for all food programs, especially for seniors, who have requirements such as sodium limits and minimum servings of protein and vegetables. De Blasio went on to detail the recurring NYPD “Summer All-Out” program, which deploys additional police officers to historically high-crime neighborhoods. He also gave a recap on NYC homeless outreach since May 4th. More than 1,400 unique individuals have accepted in total. 378 Accepted placement in a shelter, and 211 remain in a shelter. De Blasio announced that the Staten Island Ferry would be increasing its service beginning this afternoon, citing a gradual increase in ridership over the last week. The ferry will run every 30 minutes during rush hour, from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The mayor also said that New Yorkers looking to help in some way can donate blood, as COVID-19 has disrupted blood donation drives this year. Those interested can visit the above link or call 800-933-2566 to make an appointment. De Blasio ended by saying that NYC's daily COVID-19 indicators point toward the city beginning to reopen in the first half of June, although progress will need to be sustained until then.

In a press conference held Thursday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo advised employees of New York businesses to call the COVID-19 hotline if they believe their employer is not following best practices regarding PPE and hygiene. The hotline can be reached at 1-888-364-3065 He also urged New Yorkers to pick up the phone if they get a call from NYS Contact Tracing, and to cooperate with the agent on the line. Downstate beaches outside of NYC will open Friday at half capacity. The beaches open at 6 a.m. and officials expect them to reach capacity by 10 a.m. Masks will be required at the beach when social distancing is not possible and areas of social gathering such as picnic areas will be closed. Sports and other group activities are prohibited. There are 192,840 cases of COVID-19 in the city and 16,232 deaths. There are 356,458 cases statewide and 23,083 deaths.

In a Friday briefing, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio explained steps the city is taking to promote and preserve social distancing over the Memorial Day weekend. The mayor said beaches would be open for walking and sitting, but be closed to swimming, sports, and other group activities. Over 150 Parks Department personnel will be deployed across beaches to hand out free face masks, and there will be an increased police presence. The mayor noted that more than 6 million face masks have been distributed so far, and the city is prepared to distribute an additional 5 million. De Blasio unveiled a poster with takeout guidelines for bars and restaurants promoting the concept of "Take Out, Don't Hang Out." He said that gatherings and de facto parties outside these establishments will not be allowed, and police departments and agencies will be checking on areas where problems were reported, particularly in the Upper East Side. He also announced the opening of 13 new miles of Open Streets starting on Saturday across the city, on top of 31 miles which have opened so far. A map of locations with more information about the initiative is available in the link above. De Blasio also announced the city would be partnering with 18 Cure Violence organizations across 21 neighborhoods so that residents can be educated about coronavirus by their own neighbors. He also repeated a call for New Yorkers to donate blood as soon as possible and directed them to visit a center listed in the link above. Finally, he explained a new way of measuring the city's effectiveness against COVID-19 known as “indicator thresholds.” De Blasio said emphasis will shift from day-to-day fluctuations in three key metrics toward whether those metrics stay below a threshold level for a sustained period. He said the city will know it is ready for more progress if stays for a period of 10-14 days below a threshold of 200 patients admitted to hospitals with coronavirus; of 375 patients in ICUs; and of 15% people testing positive for coronavirus.

In a press conference held Friday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state would be launching a new pilot program with 52 independent pharmacies to conduct an additional 7,000 tests per week. The governor also stated New York will focus efforts on assisting small businesses, particularly those with 20 or fewer employees and those owned by women.

Late Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an extension to a previous executive order allowing certain gatherings for religious or Memorial Day celebrations of 10 or fewer people. The order now permits all non-essential gatherings of 10 or fewer people "for any lawful purpose or reason" so long as the New York Department of Health recommendations on physical distancing and sanitation are adhered to. There are 193,951 cases of COVID-19 in New York City and 16,333 deaths. Statewide there are 358,154 cases and 23,195 deaths.

In a press conference held Saturday in the governor’s mansion, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Mid-Hudson region had few enough deaths to meet additional criteria for reopening. The region still lacks the requisite number of contact tracers and must continue to train more before it will be allowed to begin reopening. The governor reported the first day of downstate beaches outside of NYC being open was a success. Beach attendees behaved well and adhered to social distancing guidelines. The governor encouraged more New Yorkers to get tested for COVID-19, including those who do not have symptoms. He cited a CDC study that said 35% of people infected with COVID-19 could be asymptomatic. Even individuals who have been tested before should seek retesting. There 194,667 cases or COVID-19 in NYC and 16,403 deaths. Statewide, there are 359,926 cases and 23,282 deaths.

In a Sunday press conference on Jones Beach, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that state beaches such as Jones Beach, Sunken Meadow, Hither Hills, and Robert Moses would be open for Memorial Day. Campgrounds and RV parks will also be opened statewide. For New York City, Mayor de Blasio said that beaches will be open at 50% capacity for walking and sitting, but be closed to swimming, sports, and other group activities. Large gatherings will be prohibited. Cuomo urged New Yorkers to be smart as they celebrate the day, and gave a reminder to follow the data when considering how to reopen safely and intelligently. He announced that veterinarian practices will be able to open in all regions beginning on Tuesday. He also said that NY professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps Sunday while following appropriate health protocols. The Mid-Hudson region is still on track to enter Phase 1 of reopening by Tuesday. Long Island is on track to open Wednesday if deaths continue to decline. The region’s contact tracing operation will be online by that date. The MTA will add more cars to the Long Island Railroad to assist with social distancing as Long Island and the Downstate region move toward reopening. Cuomo reiterated that a face covering is mandatory when riding on public transportation systems. Cuomo also spoke about rebuilding New York better post-pandemic and referred to a state-backed 15-member blue-ribbon commission focused on improving telehealth and broadband access, headed by Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Google. The NYC Department of Health last reported 195,452 total cases and 16,469 deaths in the city.

In a Monday press conference held at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Governor Cuomo acknowledged the sacrifices made by service members and frontline workers in light of Memorial Day and took a moment of silence to honor them. Cuomo once again reiterated that the state will continue to show respect to frontline workers through action, and went on to announce that state and local governments in NY will provide death benefits for public heroes who died from COVID-19 during this emergency. He also called on the federal government to provide dedicated funding for hazard pay for frontline workers. Cuomo also reported that 96 New Yorkers died from COVID-19 complications yesterday; although he said the number remains “painfully high,” it is a decrease from 109 deaths the day prior, and COVID-19 data as a whole remains on a downtrend. The NYC Department of Health last reported 196,098 total cases and 16,482 deaths in the city.

In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city had exceeded its goal of having 1,000 contact tracers working by June 1st, and will be expected to have over 1,700 tracers investigating COVID-19 cases across the five boroughs. The city will be launching an expansive media campaign encouraging more New Yorkers to seek out testing. New testing sites are opening up on a weekly basis across the city, and a new partnership between the city and AdvantageCare Physicians will allow New Yorkers to get tested at any of their 16 locations at no cost for the uninsured. Appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling 866-749-2660 The NYC Department of Health reported 196,623 total cases and 16,565 deaths in the city.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo rang in the start of the trading day at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday morning, after two months of inactivity on the floor. In a press conference held later that day, Cuomo reported 73 New Yorkers died Monday, the lowest tally since March 25th. Other COVID-19 trends are also consistently decreasing. Cuomo reiterated regional reopening decisions will be driven by data, which will also be used to direct COVID-19 resources toward the communities hardest hit by the virus. He then detailed a slew of public infrastructure improvements being fast-tracked for a post-pandemic New York, including the new Empire Station at Penn and a new LaGuardia Airport, both in NYC. He also proposed new cross-state transmission cables to increase low-cost renewable power Downstate and production Upstate, as well as the expedition of a power cable from Canada to New York City. In addition, he proposed other large infrastructure projects that could be done with the federal government’s approval, including a new LaGuardia Airtrain and a Second Ave Subway expansion. Cuomo went on to announce the top two submitted videos from the state’s "Wear a Mask" campaign will both be broadcast as PSAs.

In a Wednesday news briefing, Mayor Bill de Blasio said free services are being made available to New Yorkers who test positive for coronavirus in order to help them self-isolate. De Blasio said every COVID-19 positive New Yorker will be offered free delivery of meals and prescription medications, as well as mental health support. The services will be administered by Resource Navigators working under 15 community-based organizations. Members of the Test & Trace Corps will also check on individuals with daily calls and text messages. In addition, medical providers can refer patients to Health and Hospital Take Care hotels, where eligible New Yorkers can receive a free hotel room with medical monitoring. Any symptomatic New Yorker can also call 844-692-4692 and ask for the COVID-19 Hotel Program. De Blasio suggested people who live with elderly family members or in cramped apartments with other people take advantage of this program. The mayor said there are currently 1,200 hotel rooms available and the city will ramp up to 3,000 this summer. The mayor also said the city established a community advisory board of experts and advocates from 60 organizations who will meet twice weekly with the Test and Trace Take Care group in order to continue making improvements to the program. As the city observes Mental Health Awareness Month, the mayor also urged New Yorkers who feel stressed or anxious to call 1-888-NYC-Well. The NYC Department of Health reported 197,351 total cases and 16,610 deaths in the city.

Governor Cuomo is live. Open for the latest on COVID-19 in New York.

In a press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C., Gov. Andrew Cuomo once again urged the federal government to fund state and local governments, including those in New York. The governor cited the states most impacted by COVID-19, including New York, account for more than a third of the national gross domestic product. He also called on the federal government to stimulate the economy by investing in public infrastructure projects in New York. He encouraged officials to put politics aside and to distribute funding and aid regardless of political affiliation.

Late Wednesday, Johns Hopkins University via its coronavirus dashboard reported the United States has exceeded 100,000 deaths due to COVID-19 complications. There are 1,697,459 coronavirus cases throughout the country. The NYC Department of Health reported 197,351 total cases and 16,610 deaths in the city.

During a Thursday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio discussed which sectors will be operating once New York City reaches Phase 1 of reopening. These include sectors in construction, manufacturing, and wholesale supply. Non-essential retail will be permitted to operate with curbside and in-store pickup only. The mayor said that an estimated 200,000 - 400,000 workers will be returning in NYC, and reiterated basic rules for businesses to continue preventing further spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing will be enforced unless the safety or core function of the work activity requires less distance, and employers will have to provide their workers with free face coverings and proper protective equipment. Regular health screenings will be implemented as well. The City will require Phase 1 businesses to post reopening safety plans in the workplace. Starting immediately, the Department of Buildings, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and Small Business Services will train small business advocates and compliance advisors. Additional measures will be taken next week, including the publication of plain language industry guides. DCWP, FDNY, and DSNY will conduct random visits to reopening sites to ensure compliance. De Blasio said his administration will have “a lot more to say” on Phase 1 over the coming days as businesses prepare to reopen once permitted. Mayor de Blasio went on to give an update on the Education Advisory Council and thanked child welfare workers in the city. According to the NYC Health Department, there are 198,255 total coronavirus cases and 16,673 related deaths in the city. There are 366,733 cases statewide and 23,722 deaths.

In a Thursday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he is signing an executive order that will authorize businesses to deny entry to those who do not wear masks or face coverings. He discussed the COVID-19 situation in New York City and reiterated that the state-mandated rules and metrics are the same there as in every other NY region. The state has delivered more than 8 million masks across New York City; today, an additional 1 million masks will be delivered to hardest-hit neighborhoods across New York City. Resources for testing and relief will continue to be directed toward lower-income communities hit hardest by the virus. Cuomo pledged to address healthcare inequalities in New York and announced a partnership with Northwell Health which will work to bring more healthcare services to impacted communities. The MTA will continue to clean and disinfect trains and buses daily and are piloting the use of proven UV light technology to kill the virus in subway cars and crew facilities. Cuomo also urged residents to get tested, highlighting how more than 225 testing sites are available in NYC.

In a Friday briefing, Mayor Bill De Blasio announced that three city agencies will coordinate the pick-up and delivery of 2 million face coverings to businesses and workers to help them return to operations safely. De Blasio said his administration is also looking at ways to provide businesses with affordable cleaning supplies and disinfectants. The city will also provide resources aimed at keeping workers and customers safe in the form of materials, FAQs, signs, online trainings, and a worker protection hotline launching next week. The mayor also said the city was launching an initiative to focus testing on the non-profit sector by making voluntary, weekly COVID testing available specifically for non-profit workers at Health and Hospitals community sites. Mobile sites focusing on non-profit workers will also be set up June 15 and in July the city will provide self-testing kits for on-site testing. De Blasio said that because Cure Violence organizations across the city play such key roles in their communities, the city would give them the resources to hire 375 more staff in order to focus on social distancing. The mayor also noted that today, May 29, is the deadline to register to vote in the June 23 primaries. Finally, the mayor said that key indicators in the city’s COVID response are moving in the desired direction, and that Friday marked the lowest percentage of NYC residents testing positive for coronavirus, at 5%.

In a Friday afternoon briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York City is on track to begin reopening on June 8th. The governor said that hospital capacity must fall below 70%, a PPE stockpile must be established, and contact tracing brought up to speed, but he believes all of those things can be done next week. Cuomo said he wants to focus efforts on hotspots by ZIP code, noting that some ZIPs have double the infection rates of other places in the city. If targets are met, NYC would formally enter Phase 1, allowing up to 400,000 employees to return to work in construction, manufacturing, and retail. Under this phase, nonessential manufacturing and construction can resume, and nonessential stores can open for pick-up, delivery, and curbside service. The governor also announced that five upstate areas are approved to enter Phase 2, allowing offices, stores, barbershops, and salons to reopen with restrictions.

In a press conference held Saturday morning in the Bronx, Governor Cuomo announced that he would be signing into law a bill that would give death benefits to all frontline workers who gave their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor described providing for their families as “the least we can do.” The state will add 10 more testing sites in NYC, including one for each of the most infected zip codes in the city. The governor also addressed clashes between protesters and police in Brooklyn Friday night, and has asked the Attorney General to review all actions and procedure by police.

In a Sunday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 56 New Yorkers died from COVID-19 complications on Saturday, which marks another new low since March. On each of the two days prior, 67 lives were lost. Other indicators of COVID-19 spread in New York state remain on the decline. Governor Cuomo also announced that New York dentists can reopen tomorrow. Offices will be subject to safety and social distancing guidelines. The NYC Department of Health has reported 200,547 total cases and 16,848 total deaths.

In a Monday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that less than 1,000 positive COVID-19 test results were logged in New York on Sunday, which is a new low since March 12th. The state is conducting around 50,000 tests per day, which means the daily rate of New Yorkers testing positive is at two percent. Cuomo noted that 54 New Yorkers died from complications yesterday, marking another new low for the COVID-19 death toll. Western New York is expected to move to Phase 2 tomorrow, and the Capital Region is expected to move to Phase 2 on Wednesday. Cuomo also warned that the recent mass gatherings across the state could potentially exacerbate the COVID-19 spread. The NYC Department of Health reported 200,830 total cases and 16,882 total deaths in the city on Monday.

In a press conference held Wednesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio reaffirmed that the city will continue with its plan to begin reopening June 8th. The MTA will be providing increased rush hour service during phase one of reopening to help commuters maintain social distancing, and hand sanitizer will be made available in stations. Face coverings will be mandatory and freely available to commuters. The city will place capacity limits on trains and buses and in stations. The Mayor announced that all New Yorkers can get a COVID-19 test for free. By the end of this week, the city will have 2,500 working contact tracers, with another 1,200 to begin work the following week. The city is prepared to hire as many as 10,000 contact tracers. According to the NYC Department of Health, there are 201,806 coronavirus cases and 16,933 related deaths.

In a press conference held Saturday morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he would be signing an executive order giving commercial buildings the right to take the temperature of everyone who enters the building. The governor will also sign an order that will allow the state to prosecute price gouging on PPE.

On Monday, June 8th, New York City will enter Phase 1, which allows for the resumption of construction and manufacturing, and allows retail stores to open for pickup of pre-ordered items. Strict social distancing, sanitation, health, and safety guidelines will be in place, including use of masks and remaining 6 feet apart at all times. The MTA announced that full service will resume with a continuation of cleaning services, required use of masks, and hand sanitizer and PPE vending machines available in stations. In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Governor Cuomo announced that 225 testing sites will be added in New York City, including 15 sites dedicated to test individuals who participated in protests. 35,000 Tests will be performed in the city per day to closely monitor Phase 1 of reopening. The governor also stated that landmarks statewide will be lit in blue and gold to celebrate the accomplishments the state has made in fighting the coronavirus.

In a Monday press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio discussed the implications of New York City moving into Phase 1 of reopening. An estimated 200,000 - 400,000 workers are returning to work as construction, manufacturing, and wholesale supply sectors reopen today. Non-essential retail is also permitted to reopen with pre-ordered curbside and in-store pickup. De Blasio urged businesses to contact the NYC Dedicated Businesses Restart Hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC for guidance, and noted that the Worker Protection Hotline can be found via the 311 line. De Blasio also announced that the city will be implementing 20 total new miles of busways and bus lanes that he predicts will serve close to 750,000 daily riders. New paths will be enacted in all five boroughs through October, including a new busway on Main Street in Queens and permanent bus lanes on E 14th St in Manhattan and 149th St in The Bronx. The Staten Island Ferry will also be increasing service for Phase 1, citing increased ridership as more New Yorkers return to work. In addition, approximately 800 NYPD school safety agents will be deployed throughout the MTA system at high-priority stations to educate New Yorkers, provide face coverings, and promote social distancing. Alternate side parking is also suspended through Sunday, June 21st. The city’s COVID-19 progress indicators remain on a downward trend.

In Monday’s news briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recognized 100 days since New York had its first coronavirus case. He thanked New Yorkers, healthcare workers, and other essential workers for “rising to the occasion.” He said that thanks to their efforts, New York went from having one of the worst situations on the globe, to not only flattening the curve (or stopping the rise in COVID-19 cases), but bending it downward (causing a decline in cases), while other states see their cases go up. Cuomo said that 1.2% of New Yorkers who got tested on Sunday were positive, which is the lowest level since March 16th. In NYC, the percent of those who tested positive was 2%, compared to 59% at the peak of the virus nine weeks ago. As the city enters Phase 1 of reopening today, Cuomo said it would be performing 35,000 tests per day to closely monitor the process. If there is found to be any increase in the infection rate, he said the government would respond immediately. He said “we don’t know” how recent protests have potentially impacted the spread of the virus and urged those who have participated to get tested as soon as possible at one of 15 testing sites in NYC prioritized for those individuals. He also said additional testing sites would be set up in neighborhoods with dramatically higher positive rates. As thousands of New Yorkers prepare to begin taking the subway to work again, Cuomo said that the MTA is taking “unprecedented” measures to clean and disinfect subway cars every day. He said the state is deploying 1 million masks as well as 25,000 gallons of sanitizer to the MTA for reopening. Subway passengers will be required to wear a mask and are urged to stay six feet apart, use available hand sanitizer, and observe posted guidance.

There are at least 378,799 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 17,284 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,555,896 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 2.1% of recent tests were positive. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,299, with a decreasing fatality rate of 5.1% over the last 14 days.

There are at least 379,482 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 16,718 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,605,869 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 2.1% of recent tests were positive. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,348, with a decreasing fatality rate of 5.2% over the last 14 days.

There are at least 380,156 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 16,320 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,668,166 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 2% of recent tests were positive. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,404, with a decreasing fatality rate of 5.5% over the last 14 days.

As of Thursday, June 11th, there are at least 380,892 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 15,927 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,729,005 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 1.3% of recent tests were positive, which is 60% less than two weeks ago. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,442, with a decreasing fatality rate of 5.7% over the last 14 days.

As of Friday, June 12th, there are at least 381,714 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 14,981 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,801,400 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 1.2% of recent tests were positive, which is 59% less than two weeks ago. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,495, with a decreasing fatality rate of 6.2% over the last 14 days.

There are at least 382,630 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 14,346 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,872,240 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 1.2% of recent tests were positive, which is 55% less than two weeks ago. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,527, with a decreasing fatality rate of 6.0% over the last 14 days.

In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Governor Cuomo urged New Yorkers to follow health and social distancing requirements, including wearing a mask, as an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 are seen around the world. He also announced that the open enrollment period for New York State health insurance has been extended through July 15th. In New York City there are currently 206,606 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 17,415 related deaths.

As of Monday, June 15th, 2020, the most recent available data shows there are at least 383,944 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York, with 13,174 added in the last two weeks. In total, 2,991,210 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 1.4% of recent tests were positive, which is 51% less than two weeks ago. Each person with COVID-19 in New York is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 24,579, with a decreasing fatality rate of 5.4% over the last 14 days.

In a Tuesday press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York hospitals can now accept visitors at their discretion, so long as state guidelines are followed. These measures include time-limited visits and PPE requirements, in addition to symptom and temperature checks for visitors. Group homes certified by the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities may also begin visitations, provided they notify the state and follow similar guidelines. Cuomo also announced that the U.S. Open will be held in Queens from Aug. 31st - Sept. 13th, without spectators. He said that the United States Tennis Association will be taking precautions to protect players and staff, including robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing & transportation. Cuomo noted that the 3-day average for COVID-19 related deaths is at 24, which is a new low since the pandemic began.

In a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported new lows for multiple COVID-19 data points in New York State. On Tuesday, the state reported 17 deaths, which is the lowest since the pandemic’s onset. The daily hospitalization tally is at its lowest since March 20th, with 1,479 total on Tuesday. Additionally, the state tested 60,000 people yesterday, and less than 1% total tested positive for the coronavirus, which is one of the lowest rates in the nation. He urged New Yorkers to stay the course and continue wearing a mask to keep the state on a positive trend, citing how other states have been seeing increased case numbers recently. Cuomo also said that New York City is on track to reach Phase 2 of reopening by Monday, June 22nd. In Phase 2, office-based jobs will be permitted to reopen, in addition to real estate services and retail. However, malls will remain closed. Barbershops and hair salons will be permitted to offer limited service, and outdoor dining will also be permitted. All of the above sectors will be subject to mandatory safety guidelines set by the state, in addition to more recommended best practices.

As of Wednesday, the most recent available data shows there are at least 383,944 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York State, with 11,535 added in the last two weeks. In total, 3,435,722 COVID-19 test results have been reported. On average, 1.3% of recent tests were positive, which is 43% less than two weeks ago. Each person with COVID-19 in New York State is infecting less than one other person on average, shrinking the total number of cases. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 30,856, with a decreasing fatality rate of -53.3% over the last 14 days.

In a press conference held Thursday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to open restaurants safely as Phase 2 of reopening begins Monday, June 22nd. The city will allow curb-lane seating when appropriate, allowing street parking spots outside restaurants to be utilized for outdoor seating. Sidewalk seating, backyard and patio seating, and open streets seating will also be allowed. Seating will also be allowed in pedestrian plazas. The Rent Guidelines Board approved a rent increase freeze for approximately 1 million rent stabilized apartments in NYC. Starting Monday, playgrounds will open for New York children, but will be monitored by social distancing ambassadors who will encourage hygiene and distribute face coverings.

New York City remains on track to enter into Phase 2 of reopening Monday. The percent of people testing positive for COVID-19 in New York City remains low. As of Saturday, the state reported that roughly 1.1% of individuals tested in NYC are testing positive for the virus. New Yorkers will need to continue to practice social distancing and wear masks to keep these numbers down as playgrounds, outdoor dining, and other services reopen on Monday.

As of Saturday, June 20th, there are 208,763 cases of COVID-19 in New York City and 17,563 deaths. There are 387,272 cases statewide and 24,710 deaths.

On Monday, June 22nd, New York City will enter Phase 2 of reopening. Salons, barbershops, in-store retail, outdoor dining at restaurants, and offices can reopen at limited capacity with face coverings. Real estate services will be permitted once again. Houses of worship will be allowed to operate at 25% capacity, and playgrounds will reopen. Malls will remain closed. All of the above sectors will be subject to mandatory safety guidelines set by the state, in addition to more recommended best practices.

As of Sunday, June 21st, city health officials reported there have been at least 209,313 cases of COVID-19 and 17,596 confirmed deaths.

As of Monday, June 22nd, the most recent available data shows there are have been at least 209,562 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City, with 8 new cases added in the last day. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,636, with no new deaths recorded in the last day. To date, 54,412 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.

As of Tuesday, June 23rd, the most recent available data shows there are at least 209,893 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City, with 14 new cases added in the last day. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,657 To date, 54,421 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.

As of Wednesday, the most recent available data shows that there are at least 210,185 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is 17,685 To date, 54,504 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to the hospital.

As of Thursday, the most recent available data shows there have been at least 210,523 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,715 To date, 54,564 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.

As of Friday, the most recent available data shows there have been at least 210,908 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,753 To date, 54,578 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.

As of Saturday, the most recent available data shows there have been at least 211,229 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,779 To date, 54,624 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.

As of Sunday, the most recent available data shows there have been at least 211,569 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City. The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths is at least 17,800 overall. To date, 54,689 people with COVID-19 have been admitted to a hospital.