Another New York City Resident Dies Of Coronavirus, Cuomo Says

NEW YORK CITY — A second person died from novel coronavirus in New York City Sunday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

A 79-year-old woman with multiple major underlying health issues died in a New York City hospital one day after COVID-19 claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman, said Cuomo.

Three New Yorkers have now died from the virus — two yesterday and one Sunday morning — Cuomo said in an update on the state's response to novel coronavirus to a small cluster of reporters in Albany.

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With just 3,000 ICU beds fitted with ventilators — 2,400 of which are already occupied — Cuomo warned the coronavirus spread could push New York hospitals beyond their limits.

"We're looking at a wave," he warned. "It's going to overwhelm the healthcare system."

The latest count in New York City is 329 positive cases, with 729 in New York — the most of any U.S. state — and 156,400 cases worldwide, according to Cuomo.

Sixty-five people in the state diagnosed with COVID-19 had been hospitalized as of Sunday afternoon.

Cuomo said New York will need thousands of ventilators to meet the rising demand for ICU beds, but a worldwide shortage meant they could not be purchased.

"An area we have to explore is can you build more hospital capacity now," Cuomo said, adding he's held discussions with private business owners about locating more space.

The New York court systems will also begin working at reduced capacity, postponing all non-essential services, he said.

Arraignments, criminal proceedings and child protection hearings will continue, but civil and non-time sensitive matters will be delayed, the governor said.

New York State Chief Judge Janet Marie DiFiore is expected to release a detailed plan Monday.

Earlier in the day, Cuomo issued an executive order modifying election procedures to suspend the candidate petitioning process for June primaries.

The order also reduced signature requirements for ballot access; candidates only need collect 30 percent of the statutory threshold, he said.

During the press conference, Cuomo also addressed reports that bars and restaurants flouted his reduced capacity rules over the weekend.

Cuomo called on the NYPD to enforce the recent 50 percent capacity in bars and restaurants and said his office would consider more aggressive enforcement if the rule was flouted.

The governor also backed up Mayor Bill de Blasio's stance on keeping schools open and argued it was the federal government's responsibility to organize the endeavor.

"We can't have nurses staying home because they have to stay home and watch their child," Cuomo argued. "Close the schools? It's not that easy."

"If you think schools have to be closed then help us," Cuomo said in a direct address to Washington. "There are ways to do it."

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