Gov. Cuomo expresses concern for increase in COVID-19 cases on Long Island

Cuomo said New York had its deadliest day yet from the pandemic, with more than 562 deaths in the last 24 hours. The state has now lost 2,935 people to COVID-19, nearly as many people that died at the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks.

News 12 Staff

Apr 4, 2020, 12:31 AM

Updated 1,482 days ago

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The rate of increasing coronavirus cases on Long Island has been a cause for concern for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and health officials.
Cuomo said New York had its deadliest day yet from the pandemic, with more than 562 deaths in the last 24 hours. The state has now lost 2,935 people to COVID-19, nearly as many people that died at the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks.
There are now more than 102,000 confirmed cases across New York. Cuomo expressed deep concern about the rate of increased cases and hospitalizations on Long Island, with more than 1,400 new cases each in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
"Long Island does not have as elaborate a health care system as New York City," says Cuomo. "We don't have the same amount of resources on Long Island, and we see an increase in the number of cases on Long Island and that has us very concerned.
Both county executives spoke about the outbreak's toll on Long Island Hospitals.
"We know that they are operating in an environment right now that is essentially the medical equivalent of a war zone," says Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone.
"Our hospitals, our health care workers are, we all know now, are stretched to the limit and need relief," says Nassau Executive Laura Curran.
Cuomo says he is signing an executive order allowing the state to take person protective equipment, including medical masks, gloves and ventilators from public or private organizations and distribute them to hospitals.
He also reiterated his plea to companies to help produce badly needed equipment.
One bright spot, according to Cuomo, is the 20,000 volunteers coming from across the country to help New York. He vowed to repay the debt.
 


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