New York reports highest daily COVID-19 death total with 731

ALBANY, N.Y. —  Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday morning reported that New York state had 731 COVID-19 deaths in the last day, up from 599 deaths reported the day before.

It was the highest daily total of deaths and one-day increase in deaths since the coronavirus crisis started in the state several weeks ago.

The number of coronavirus cases in New York rose by 8,147 (or 6.2 percent) to 138,836 total cases. That was down from the 8,658 (or 7.1 percent) case increase Monday. It was the fourth straight day of lower percentage increases in COVID-19 cases.

New ICU admissions and intubations continued to fall as they have for a few days. Together with new hospitalizations, these statistics are suggestive of a plateauing of the pandemic in the state.

The governor insisted that social distancing and the NY PAUSE directive, shutting down non-essential business, is working at flattening the curve. “We just have to stick with it,” he said.

Cuomo explained the increase in deaths by noting it reflects patients that had come into the hospital at the peak two to three weeks ago. The reductions in the flow into hospitals now should eventually lead to lower deaths in the coming days.

“Let’s not get complacent. We have to stay disciplined,” Cuomo said about the measures the state has taken on social distancing.

This is a breaking new story. Visit cnybj.com for updates.