Coronavirus In Nassau: Deaths In County Top 1,000

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — For yet another day, the number of people admitted to Nassau County hospitals with the new coronavirus was lower than the number discharged, signaling that the area may be reaching a plateau of cases. However, the number of people killed by the virus in Nassau topped 1,000, a sobering new record.

As of Wednesday, there were 26,715 positive cases of the coronavirus in Nassau County, according to information from the state. There were 2,477 coronavirus patients in Nassau's 11 hospitals, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, which was an increase of 13 over the previous day. However, 132 patients were discharged.

"We have more discharges and people walking out of the hospital than coming in with COVID-19," Curran said.

However, the number of deaths attributed to the virus continues to rise. As of Wednesday, there were 1,001 Nassau County residents killed by the virus.

"We just want to say to the families that we're sorry and we're with you, even if we can't be with you physically," said Curran.

There are 148 officers across Nassau County's police departments who have tested positive for the virus and are not at work. Another 135 officers are in quarantine. However, 204 officers have either recovered from the virus or come out of quarantine and are now back at work. There are 44 positive cases in the sheriff's department and seven in quarantine, but 76 have been cleared and are back at work.

"They're the definition of grit and professionalism," Curran said.

There are also currently 21 inmates at the Nassau County Correctional Facility who have tested positive for the virus, and another 27 who have been cleared.

In order to help businesses however it can during the pandemic, Curran said the county would not be collecting licensing fees for various businesses. That includes the more than 10,000 home improvement contractors, as well as thousands of other businesses.

If a business's license would expire during the pandemic, Curran said they will not be issued a late fee, so long as they renew their license by the new, still-to-be-determined date.

Any business that still has an active license will have the life of that license extended by however long the shutdown lasts, Curran said. Many of these businesses are currently unable to use the licenses, and Curran said they shouldn't be penalized for that.

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The sentiment that New York may be at the plateau of the coronavirus pandemic was echoed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his daily press briefing Tuesday. The total number of hospitalizations has seemed to level off over the last few days and currently hovers around 18,600, Cuomo said. The number of people being put on ventilators has also dropped. However, 752 people died Tuesday, bringing New York's death total from the virus to 11,586.

"[The curve] is basically flat at a devastating level of pain and grief," Cuomo said. "Seems to be flattening at this level."

Cuomo said that New York bucked the models and predictions, and the death toll and number of infected were much lower than initially thought.

"What we have learned through this process is that our actions determine our destiny," Cuomo said. "We changed the curve."

To help stop the spread even further, Cuomo is mandating that all New Yorkers wear face masks when they are unable to maintain a safe social distance of at least six feet from other people, such as when they are out shopping.

The next step is to figure out how to reopen the state and get the economy going again, Cuomo said. It's something that is going to take a regional approach and be done in coordination with neighboring states.

"If we can't come up with a common plan, let's come up with a plan that's not contradictory," Cuomo said.