State’s daily death toll falls to 84

No new deaths reported in region’s numbers, as reopening advances

COVID-19 deaths across New York state in the most recent counting have fallen into the double digits for the first time in weeks — one of several pandemic numbers that appear to be on the downswing, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Saturday.

“Eighty-four (deaths) is still a tragedy, no doubt.” Cuomo said during a rare briefing from his “home” — the historic governor’s mansion in Albany, that is. “The fact that the (number of deaths) is as low as it is, is really overall good news.”

Of those deaths Friday, 62 took place in hospitals and 22 in nursing homes, he said. On Thursday, 109 New Yorkers died from the disease caused by the coronavirus. Hospitalizations and new cases also are steadily decreasing, he noted.

The ebb in the numbers comes as activity begins to flower again — phased openings have begun in some of the state’s regions, the latest being in the mid-hudson area coming on Tuesday. State beaches are opening, with social distancing and other safety protocols in place.

“People were great,” for instance, at Long Island’s Jones Beach, he said, displaying an oceanside photo.

On Friday, Cuomo ordered that gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed “for any lawful purpose or reason” anywhere in the state as long as social-distance protocols were followed. It had been allowed for Memorial Day and religious observances initially.

The governor also encouraged people to get a test if they have symptoms, are an essential worker or are in a region that is about to reopen. He even suggested people get retested if it’s been a while since their last one.

Reporters asked Cuomo about