Covid-19 deaths continued to mount in New York State, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday, amid some signs that the epidemic may be beginning to level off. A record 731 state residents died, surpassing the 599 the previous day.
Among that total were 64 more deaths in Suffolk, bringing the county total to 263, County Executive Steve Bellone said. “That is a staggering number,” Bellone said. “It is a stark reminder about what is happening in those hospitals and what those healthcare workers are facing.”
“The number of deaths is at an all-time high today but the hospitalization rate is slowing,” Cuomo said. “People talk about projection models. There is no model. It is what we do. The number is determined by us. … If we get complacent and the weather starts to turn warm in the Northeast and people start to go out you’re going to see that number go up. None of this is predetermined.”
Another 8,174 cases of infection were reported, bringing the state total to 138,863.
Suffolk County’s infection total hit 15,637, with 2,089 in Huntington.
“That is the largest single day increase and we talk about numbers but that’s 731 people who we lost,” Cuomo said. “Behind every one of those numbers is an individual, is a family, is a mother, is a father, is a sister, is a brother. So a lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers and they’re in our thoughts and prayers.”
The Town of Huntington is flying flags at half staff in honor of former Councilman Thomas J. Casey, former Assemblyman and Legislator Regis O’Neil, Huntington Hospital nurse John Abruzzo, and other lives lost from the Town of Huntington family.
“The Town of Huntington stands together in mourning former Councilman Casey, former Assemblyman O’Neil, Mr. Abruzzo and the lowered flag symbolically honors all those lives lost from the Town of Huntington family during this difficult time in our nation,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
According to his obituary available on the M.A. Connell Funeral Home website, former Councilman Thomas J. Casey passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020. New York.
Regis O’Neil, a former New York State assemblyman, Suffolk County legislator, and philanthropist, passed away April 1.
John Abruzzo, a registered nurse from Seaford who cared for COVID-19 positive patients at Huntington Hospital, died April 2.
WABC-TV reported that morgues and funeral homes are at capacity in Suffolk County.
The governor also:
- Issued a letter to New York’s congressional delegation outlining the state’s needs in the next federal COVID-19 legislation. The previous COVID-19 stimulus bills failed to adequately address New York’s revenue losses and included restrictions affecting the state’s Medicaid reforms.
- Announced an agreement with the largest student loan servicers in New York to obtain relief for student loan borrowers experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Available relief includes 90 days of deferred monthly payments, waived late fees, no negative reporting to credit agencies, and enrolling eligible borrowers in available long-term assistance program. Students must contact their providers to apply.