New York City alone in state in keeping economy closed

NEW YORK — Long Island became the latest region of New York to begin easing some restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo lobbied the president for help with transportation projects. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said efforts to fight the virus have left the city with a $9 billion budget deficit.

Other coronavirus-related developments Wednesday in New York:

Long Island

The sprawling suburbs of Nassau and Suffolk counties, where at least 4,000 people have been killed by the virus, were given approval Tuesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to begin reopening parts of their economy after nonessential businesses were shuttered for two months.

Construction, manufacturing, agriculture and retail with curbside pickup are permitted in the first phase of reopening.

Several popular beaches on Long Island opened last weekend with new rules for reduced capacity and social distancing.

New infections have slowed throughout the state but not stopped. More than 1,000 New Yorkers tested positive on Tuesday.

The state reported that the virus has claimed an additional 74 lives in New York on Tuesday, for a total of more than 23,600.

Cuomo to Washington

Cuomo lobbied President Donald Trump in Washington for help with massive New York City transportation projects and accused top Republicans of “abusing” states hardest hit by COVID-19 by opposing more aid.

The Democratic governor wants to move quickly on billions of dollars’ worth of infrastructure projects to jump-start New York’s outbreak-ravaged economy.

Cuomo said he talked to Trump about two train tunnels beneath the Hudson River, an expansion of the Second Avenue subway line and a train linking LaGuardia Airport in Queens to Manhattan.