Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called on the federal government again to give New York State more federal aid due to the money lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Credit: NY Governor's Office

This story was reported by Matthew Chayes, Anthony M. DeStefano, Scott Eidler, Candice Ferrette, Bart Jones and David Reich-Hale. It was written by Jones.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo defended his cautious reopening of New York State as a more humane approach to the coronavirus pandemic, and suggested states that do so more quickly are sacrificing human lives.

Cuomo said he is taking a measured, data-driven approach to the reopening, and holding off on bringing back a wide range of activities, including many businesses and schools, until regions show more progress in beating back the COVID-19 virus and preparing for any resurgence. Other states are moving more rapidly, opening salons, tattoo stores and restaurants.

“There is a question that is being debated right under the surface,” he said at his daily briefing Tuesday, held in Manhattan. “The fundamental question, which we are not articulating, is, ‘How much is a human life worth?’ ’’

He went on: “The faster we reopen, the lower the economic cost. But the higher the human cost, because the more lives lost. That, my friends, is the decision we are really making.”

Cuomo made clear where he stands: “A human life is priceless. Period.”

He noted that projections of deaths from coronavirus in the United States have jumped since many states started reopening recently. FEMA’s estimate has increased from 20,000 to as many as 200,000 deaths by June, he said. Another influential model funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the University of Washington and referred to by the White House has changed its projection of 60,415, made in early April, to 134,475, he said.

“How many more deaths are you willing to sustain to reopen quickly? 100 more deaths? 500 more deaths? Because there is a cost of reopening," Cuomo said. "There is a cost of staying closed. There’s a cost of reopening too quickly.”

He said New York will open “when it is safe,” making a plea for the country to have a "hard conversation" on the matter. New York's plan hinges on monitoring the data and death rate to "close the valve" if the virus makes a resurgence.

President Donald Trump told David Muir, of ABC World News Tonight, he favors a reopening.

“It’s possible there will be some [deaths] because you won’t be locked in an apartment or a house,” Trump said. "But at the same time, we will be practice social distancing and washing hands … but we have to get our country back.”

The state should come back stronger and better, with improvements in hospital systems' preparedness, disinfecting of public transportation and increased use of technology in education,  Cuomo said.

The state is teaming with the Gates Foundation to try to improve New York’s education system with the “distance learning” approach that the pandemic has forced schools to adopt through the coronavirus shutdown, Cuomo said.

The initiative will look at using technology to reduce educational inequality, helping disabled students or those learning English as a new language, and creating virtual classrooms that could replace an in-person lecture hall or large class.

Indicators trend down

Some coronavirus indicators statewide continued to improve, Cuomo said. The number of people newly hospitalized with the virus, 659 on Monday, marked the first time the figure was below 700 since late March and was well below the daily peak of about 3,200 in early April, according to state figures.

The new daily death toll, 230, marked the fifth straight day the number was under 300 and far below the peak of nearly 800 in early April. Even so, Cuomo said such loss is "painful, painful news for New Yorkers."

Nassau County added 187 new positives for coronavirus, according to state figures, for a total of 37,152. In Suffolk, where that daily number of new cases is also on the decline, 198 positives were added for a total of 35,275. New York City added 1,223 new cases for a total of 176,874.

Nassau County recorded 26 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday for a total of 1,818, while 23 people died in Suffolk for a total of 1,296. The COVID-19 virus has killed 3,114 Long Islanders as of Monday, as the statewide death toll reached 19,645. 

Despite the downward curve of hospitalizations statewide, the Long Island region and New York City are not expected to be ready to reopen their economies when the existing shutdown of nonessential businesses and schools expires on May 15.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Tuesday he was “a little discouraged” by a second consecutive day of an uptick in the number of people hospitalized, as the county increases testing and tries to meet other metrics toward a phased reopening of economic activity.

“The fact that we’ve had now two days in a row, that concerns me,” Bellone said.

The number of hospitalizations increased by four from Sunday to Monday and by 18 from Monday to Tuesday, putting in jeopardy a key benchmark of 14 straight days of decreasing patients.

“That’s not the direction we want to be moving in,” Bellone said, noting the two-day trend could signal the hospitalization rate plateauing "at a very high number."

Northwell Health on Tuesday said the number of COVID-19 patients at its Long Island hospitals has fallen to 985, down 25% from a week ago.

Cuomo said his daughter, Mariah Kennedy Cuomo, who attended his briefing, will advise on a state campaign to encourage New Yorkers to use face coverings. New Yorkers will be asked to submit videos of 30 seconds or less to WearAMask.NY.Gov, encouraging others to wear masks. Residents will vote for a favorite to be aired on TV, the governor said.

De Blasio reacts to Trump

In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio likened Trump to Herbert Hoover, the president who ushered in the Great Depression, for opposing a bailout for Democratic-led states like New York and California, among the worst ravaged by the pandemic.

“Who cares who runs the states? The people need help! They’re Americans who need help right now,” de Blasio said at his daily virtual news conference. “Do you not care about that firefighter? That EMT? That paramedic? That police officer? That health care worker? Because they live in a state run by a Democrat, or a city run by a Democrat? Does that make them less American in your view, Mr. President?”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on President...

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on President Donald Trump to put aside political considerations and help his hometown of Queens, one of the hardest-hit places in the state's coronavirus outbreak. Credit: Mayoral Photography Office/Michael Appleton

De Blasio was responding to comments Trump made to the New York Post that a bailout would not be “fair to the Republicans” because the states that need help are run by Democrats.

De Blasio mentioned that Trump is from Queens, one of the hardest-hit places.

“Remember your hometown, and remember every hometown in America,” he said. “Just lend a helping hand so people can get back on their feet once and for all.”

De Blasio has said the city needs $7.4 billion to replace tax revenue lost from the virus’ economic fallout. 

New York City had the most confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, with an additional 1,223 positives adding up to 176,874 confirmed diagnoses as of Monday. State figures showed that 13,815 city residents had died of coronavirus-related ailments, making up about 70% of the state's tally of fatalities.

Starting Wednesday, transportation officials said New York City Transit was poised to close its 472 subway stations between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., so that cleaning crews can disinfect the trains every day to prevent coronavirus spread. Long Island Rail Road trains, too, will undergo daily disinfecting, although the effort is not expected to impact railroad service.

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