Hospitalisation drop, flat death toll ‘good’: NY Gov. Ex-staffer of DC succumbs to virus

New York, April 7: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said an effectively flat death toll for two days and a drop in the number of hospitalisations and ICU admissions could be “good signs” of a “possible flattening” of the Covid19 curve in the state but warned that becoming complacent will be a mistake. The state, the epicentre of the US, has a total of 130,689 Covid-19 cases and 4,758 people have died from the virus.

But in a slight glimmer of hope, Cuomo said the death toll in the state has been “effectively flat for two days”. In the 24 hours since April 4, the death toll grew to “all-time increase” of 630. On Sunday, fewer than 600 deaths were reported in New York — 594. However, the city registered 731 deaths , its highest in 24 hours on Monday. The number of cases reached 68,766 and the death toll was 2,738.

He said while the death toll is not good news, “the possible flattening of the curve is better than the increases we have seen”. He also said that there had been a drop in number of hospitalisations, ICU admissions and daily intubations.

Washington, April 7: Scores of Indian-Americans have tested positive with the novel Covid-19 in the US and several of them, including a journalist of a news agency, have died, according to multiple news reports from community organisations and diaspora leaders from across the country.

While there is no official or unofficial count of Indian-Americans infected with the virus in the country, information available on various private social media groups indicate that a significant number of them are in New York and New Jersey.

The two States, which have the highest concentration of Indian-Americans in the US, are also the worst hit by the Covid-19. By Monday, over 170,000 people tested positive in these two States and fatalities crossed 5,700.

Veteran Indian-American journalist Brahm Kuchibhotla, a former contributor to United News of

India news agency and a Deccan Chronicle staffer, breathed his last at a New York hospital on Monday night. “Really shocking that this is happening to the community. Cannot believe that this is happening to us and the people we know,” said Indian American Rajendra Dichpally. Community leaders said that every day they have been receiving reports of their near and dear ones and other testing positive.