NY recorded its highest death toll from coronavirus since the crisis began.
The 731 deaths reported this Tuesday bring the deceased to 5,489 and there are already 138,836 confirmed infections.
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In addition, the authorities were confronted by measures to protect vulnerable populations after a prisoner died in Rikers prison.
Michael Tyson, 53, passed away while awaiting a hearing for a non-criminal offense.
As of Monday, 286 prisoners and 331 officials had tested positive for coronavirus in the jails of the city of NY.
The outbreak in the city’s prison system is one of the worst in U.S, while the state of NY continues to lead the country both in total number of cases and deaths.
The record of deaths came after two days in which the numbers had fallen.
“We need to maintain social distance and stay home. Many lives depend on it,” said the governor, Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo has already ordered the release of at least 1,100 prisoners.
Tyson was the first prisoner to die of Covid-19 on Rikers Island, one of the largest jails in New York.
Various associations criticized the governor for failing to release those who are especially vulnerable to the virus.
Tyson had been in custody since Feb. 28 for violating parole in 2017, a technical error for failing to report an address change.
The Legal Aid Society had included Tyson on a list of 100 detainees seeking his release. He was considered “high risk” because of his age and health conditions.
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