Coronavirus In Nassau: Hospitalizations Decrease For First Time

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Nassau County continued to see a drop in the number of people hospitalized by the coronavirus, as the number of new confirmed cases and deaths attributed to the virus both also seemed to slow.

According to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, the county now has 27,772 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, an increase of 1.052. That's a smaller increase than the previous day, when nearly 1,500 new cases were reported.

There were 52 deaths reported yesterday, bringing the county's total to 1,109. But that is also a smaller increase than previous days.

According to Curran, there are currently 2,419 coronavirus patients in Nassau's 11 hospitals — a decrease of 58. There were 235 people discharged yesterday.

"We stayed home, we did the right thing, and we flattened the curve," Curran said. "And that's thanks to everyone in Nassau County."

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The consensus among officials is that it seems New York has reached the apex of its cases of the coronavirus. The state has seen a plateau, with the number of hospitalizations statewide actually dropping slightly.

The death rate in the state is also slowing. According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 606 people died yesterday, which is nearly 150 less than the day before. So far, the virus has claimed the lives of 12,192 New Yorkers.

The state's focus is starting to move onto how, and when, to allow businesses to reopen. Cuomo said it would most likely be a phased reopening, with more essential businesses reopening before others.

There will also be a discussion on how businesses reopen, Cuomo said, and what new practices will be in place. Some companies may have to continue allowing employees to work from home, and others will have to figure out how to work social distancing into their business models.

Still, the governor extended the stay-home order today to May 15, keeping New York on lockdown for another month, at least.

"This is going to be a moment of transformation for society, and we paid a very high price for it," Cuomo said. "But how do we learn the lessons so this new normal is a better New York?"