Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday discussed the latest information about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the state: although overall numbers are down, the daily death toll is still "tremendously distressing." Credit: Facebook / Governor Andrew Cuomo

This story was reported by Rachelle Blidner, Vera Chinese, Scott Eidler, David Reich-Hale, Michael O'Keeffe and Lisa L. Colangelo. It was written by Chinese and Colangelo.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to show signs of waning across New York Sunday, but Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo warned that easing up on social distancing, staying home and other safe practices could lead to a new surge.

Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio both cited numbers showing fewer COVID-19 patients need hospital care but emphasized that restrictions can't be lifted too quickly.

"People talk about this like it's going to come and go, it's a once-in-a-lifetime," said Cuomo, whose stay-at-home order for all but essential workers and businesses expires May 15. "I don't know that it's a once-in-a-lifetime and I don't know that it's going to come and go. There are people now talking about a second wave, they're talking about a possible mutation of the virus."

The governor also said the state and six others will join forces to buy more personal protective equipment, while de Blasio said the city is now making its own test kits.

Cuomo pointed to the decline in the number of those hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state to 9,789 people, saying at his daily news briefing it's "a big deal for us … You have to go back to March 18,19, to get near that number."

“I wouldn't bet the farm on these numbers, but the overall number is good,” he said.

At the same time, he reported 280 new New York deaths from the virus and said that number has “not moved dramatically.”

Sal "The Voice" Valentinetti, from Bethpage, visited Plainview Hospital on Sunday to give thanks to health care workers, and car parades were held in Bayport and Great Neck. Elected officials advised the public to maintain social distancing, even in the nice weather. Newsday's Pat Dolan has the full report. Credit: Newsday staff; Facebook / Governor Andrew Cuomo; Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone

While sun and warm temperatures beckoned quarantined-weary New Yorkers outside their home into parks and other green spaces this weekend, Cuomo urged caution. He reminded the public they are still required to don face masks when venturing outside and social distancing is impossible, and to keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others.

Northwell Health, which operates 11 hospitals on Long Island, said its numbers mirrored the downward trend, with 1,498 COVID-19 patients at its 19 hospitals, a 55% drop from the peak of 3,360 hospitalized on April 8 due to COVID-19.

As of Sunday, the New Hyde Park-based health system's volume of COVID-19 patients had fallen 25% in the past week, a spokesman said. Northwell reported 28 deaths on Saturday, the lowest number since March.

“It’s significantly less than half the deaths we had during the peak,” said Terry Lynam, a Northwell spokesman.

Lynam said 38% of the system's COVID-19 patients are in intensive care units, but that percentage could rise even as the number of coronavirus patients slides.

Separately, Northwell said it sent an email to 2.7 million current and past patients, noting that it’s important not to ignore other health issues they might be experiencing.

Health systems throughout the region have reported a 50% reduction in emergency department care in recent weeks, as people avoid medical facilities.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said the county had 29 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total to 1,256. There were 889 new cases, for an overall number of 36,974. Bellone said that number includes an additional 1,673 people who tested positive for antibodies without testing positive in regular testing.

The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Suffolk declined to 813, with 324 people on ventilators

“We’re marching forward towards that 14-day metric from the CDC, which is an important marker as we plan for a reopening for New York,” Bellone said.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran echoed that sentiment, noting that Nassau has now reported its 18th continuous day of declining hospitalizations.

There are 1,097 coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the county, Curran said in a statement, which represents a 56% decrease from the county’s peak of 2,477 two weeks ago.

Curran also said the number of ICU and ventilated patients continues to drop. There are currently 344 ICU patients and 295 ventilated patients.

According to the state Health Department, there were 261 new positive cases in Nassau County on Sunday, for a total of 36,780, with 1,770 county deaths attributed to COVID-19.

Bellone said that while officials are seeking a regional approach to reopening the economy, that process may look different on Long Island than in New York City, and even in parts of Suffolk.

“We’re trying to take a coordinated approach as much as possible, but we understand there are differences,” Bellone said. “Nassau and Suffolk are certainly much more aligned” with each other than with New York City.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said most of the people observed in parks during this weekend's warm weather were in compliance with social-distancing guidelines.

Bellone said enforcement has mainly been in the form of educating people of their errors. But police are patrolling.

“The best enforcement out there is people seeing other people out there following guidance,” he said.

Also on Sunday, Cuomo announced a new statewide mandate requiring all hospitals to stockpile a 90-day supply of personal protective equipment. He said a purchasing consortium with Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Delaware will "make us more competitive in the international marketplace and I believe it will save taxpayers money."

The group would also try to buy PPE, which includes masks, gowns and gloves, from within the United States, Cuomo said.

At his update, de Blasio said New York City is now producing test kits and will have 30,000 ready by the end of the week.

The mayor said the tests are being made with 3D printers and the plan is to produce 50,000 per week.

The mayor cautioned against the “boomerang" effect of potential new infections if safety guidelines are ignored. De Blasio cited Hong Kong and Japan, where officials reopened certain areas and then reported new rounds of infections.

He also lobbed a dig at Kevin Hassett, an adviser to President Donald Trump, for statements Hassett made suggesting further relief legislation for cash-strapped cities and states hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic may not be necessary.

“Well let me tell you something, Kevin,” de Blasio said. “Why don’t you come to New York City? Why don’t you go to Elmhurst Hospital? Why don’t you talk to our first responders? Why don’t you talk to the families who have lost their loved ones? Or go to the ICUs where hundreds of people are fighting for their lives?”

Without additional federal assistance, the mayor said, the city may have to furlough or lay off health care workers, police officers, firefighters and other essential municipal employees.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged federal regulators to police predatory lenders who he said have provided high-interest loans to New Yorkers and other Americans desperate to pay for rent and groceries during the pandemic.

The issue has become even more pressing, Schumer said, as people who have lost jobs during the pandemic become desperate. The payday loan industry has aggressively targeted consumers with online solicitations veiled as “COVID-19: Financial Relief” and “Emergency Relief Funding,” he said.

“Don’t fall for them. The immediate need for money is real, but the havoc it will create for you for years to come is much greater," Schumer said from his Manhattan office.

“The loan sharks are asking interest rates as high as 800%,” Schumer added. “In other words, they loan you $100, you have to pay back $800.”

The senator encouraged Long Island residents who have received solicitations they believed came from predatory lenders to contact his office at 631-753-0978.
 

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