Mayor Bill de Blasio gave an update on the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City Sunday afternoon.

BRIEFING NOTES: 

-The city faces a "tough, tough journey" ahead amid the pandemic, mayor says.

-The mayor says he spoke to President Trump Sunday morning to urgently request more ventilators and medical personnel from the federal government.

-De Blasio says best way to get that is from the military. He says the federal government is receptive but he's waiting to see specific results. He's asking for at least 400 ventilators by April 1, and more by April 5.

-Mayor says NYC remains the epicenter of this crisis nationally. He says the city's numbers are staggering - and they all represent real people.

-As of Sunday morning there are 32,308 total cases of COVID-19 in NYC, and 678 deaths, including 161 in just the past 24 hours.

-The mayor spoke about some of the lives who have been lost, including people who served with the FDNY, MTA and other city agencies.

-De Blasio says the crush of EMS calls is unprecedented.

-Mayor addresses health care workers across the city: "We are all in this together," says city is working to get additional personnel and supplies immediately.

-De Blasio says he's grateful and looking forward to greeting the USNS Comfort, the Navy hospital ship due to arrive Monday. It aims to lessen burden on local hospitals by treating non-COVID patients.

-Mayor says a 68-bed field hospital is being created at Central Park, in the East Meadow. He says it's being rolled out by Mount Sinai Hospital with help from the organization Samaritan's Purse.

-MTA is working with NYPD to address any reports of subway crowding, mayor says. He urges anyone who spots subway crowding to report it by calling 311 and to avoid that car.