Nearly 60,000 coronavirus cases and 1,000 deaths have now been documented across New York State, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday, as he extended the closure of non-essential businesses statewide until at least April 15.
“The virus continues its march across the state of New York,” said Cuomo in his now-daily Albany press briefing, noting that only two counties in all the Empire State have so far been spared confirmed cases. “New York is the epicenter.”
The state now has 59,513 confirmed diagnoses, with 965 dead, Cuomo said.
That grim tally includes 32,308 cases and 678 deaths in New York City, where a resident is now dying every 8.9 minutes, according to city statistics.
“I don’t see how you look at those numbers and conclude anything less than thousands of people will pass away,” said Cuomo, of the statewide figures.
With the apex of the contagion still expected to be weeks away, Cuomo extended his PAUSE order mandating the closure on non-essential businesses statewide until at least April 15.
“We’re doing it in two-week intervals, because every day is a new day, and we’ll see what happens day-to-day,” said Cuomo. “But I think it’s not even questionable today.”