Tragic numbers don’t add up?
N.Y., N.J. report record virus deaths, fear toll undercounted
NEW YORK — The number of coronavirus cases in New York state alone approached 150,000 Wednesday, surpassing Spain for the most infections anywhere in the world, even as authorities warned the state’s official death tally may understate the true toll.
New York and neighbouring New Jersey Wednesday again reported new single-day highs for coronavirus deaths.
New York state has 149,316 reported cases compared to Spain’s 146,690, according to a Reuters tally.
In total, the United States has recorded more than 417,000 coronavirus cases and 14,100 deaths.
New York officials said a recent surge in the number of people dying at home suggests that the most populous U.S. city may be undercounting how many people have died of COVID19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.
“I think that’s a very real possibility,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in his daily news briefing.
Cuomo said 779 people died from the coronavirus in the past day in his state and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said another 275 had died there.
Both totals exceeded oneday records reported just a day earlier.
Despite the grim tally, Cuomo said overall trends still appear positive, with the rate of hospitalizations down in the state at the epicentre of the U.S. epidemic.
“Every number is a face, right,” Cuomo said of the death statistics. “This virus attacked the vulnerable and attacked the weak and it’s our job as a society to protect the vulnerable.”
Murphy tightened New Jersey’s social-distancing requirements, ordering retailers including grocery stores, still allowed to operate to limit customers, ensure that customers and employees wear face coverings and regularly sanitize the premises.
“We need to continue to be absolutely vigilant and, if anything tighten, as opposed to loosen,” Murphy said.