Published on : 04/04/2020 – 21:28
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New York State, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus in the United States, announced 630 new deaths in one day on Saturday, its worst 24-hour record. Its governor is launching an emergency appeal while the peak of the epidemic is yet to come.
New York needs help. Epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic in the United States, New York State announced Saturday, April 4, 630 new deaths in one day, its worst 24-hour record, and launched an emergency appeal pending ” the peak “of the epidemic. This state, which has the largest city in the country, now deplores 3,565 deaths.
New York State has recorded more than 113,000 cases – including 63,000 for its metropolis – almost as many as in Italy or Spain, where the death tolls are the heaviest.
According to the Johns Hopkins University count published on Saturday, the United States has passed the 300,000 mark for the novel coronavirus. The pandemic has killed at least 8,162 in the country
“We haven’t reached the peak yet”
“We have not yet reached the peak ‘of the epidemic’ but we are getting closer,” Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference, stressing that the progression of the disease was particularly rapid on Long Island and in neighboring New Jersey.
“On the one hand I would like us to have reached the peak,” he added. “But on the other hand I tell myself that it’s good that we haven’t reached the peak because we are not ready.”
>> To read: “Coronavirus: the United States is preparing for ‘a horrible time'”
To avoid hospital congestion, local authorities are in a race against time to strengthen their capacity to cope with the expected influx of patients.
“When we started our first concern was to have enough beds, now we focus on equipment and personnel,” said Andrew Cuomo, emphasizing the need for ventilators for the most severe cases.
The state of Oregon is sending 140 ventilators to NY.
We are so grateful to @OregonGovBrown and the people of Oregon.
On behalf of the people of NY, I thank you and rest assured that NY will repay the favor when Oregon needs it.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 4, 2020
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“The Chinese state will donate 1,000 respirators due to arrive at JFK airport today,” he said, especially thanking Jack Ma, founder of Chinese online sales giant Alibaba. The state of Oregon on the west coast also needs to deliver 140 respirators, Cuomo added.
In addition, he said, the field hospital opened in a Manhattan conference center will ultimately be well devoted to Covid-19 patients, and will be able to accommodate 2,500. The federal state will provide its staff.
A call from the mayor to all caregivers
For his part, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, called on health professionals to mobilize.
“Doctors, nurses, breathing specialists … to all those who are not already in the battle: we need you”, launched the democratic councilor in a video posted on his Twitter account.
“We need 45,000 health professionals to join the fight in April and May to be able to get out of this,” added Bill de Blasio.
At the state level, 85,000 people have already volunteered, including 22,000 from outside, according to Andrew Cuomo, who for his part indicated that he would sign an executive order authorizing medical students who are to graduate from spring to work now.
“It’s an exceptional period and New York needs help,” he said.
“Given that we have skills that seem necessary and valuable at the moment, it was an easy decision to make,” Gabrielle Mayer, a fourth-year medical student at New University, said in a press conference. York, who will begin her hospital internship early.
On a positive note, Andrew Cuomo noted that despite the rising death toll, two-thirds of New Yorkers hospitalized were managing to recover and leave hospitals.
“We will get out of this eventually, we will reach the other side of the mountain. But we have to do what needs to be done in the meantime,” he added.
With AFP
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