New York City records a whopping 1,644 new coronavirus cases in a DAY taking total to 3,615 – meaning the Big Apple now has more COVID-19 patients than the entire UK
- New York City has recorded 3615 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday evening
- Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that 22 city residents have died in relation to the disease; 500 are in hospital and 169 of those are in intensive care
- The explosion of cases in NYC now means that the city has more coronavirus patients than the entirety of the United Kingdom
- Around half of those who have tested positive to the virus in NYC are under the age 50
- As of Thursday evening, 11, 325 Americans have tested positive to COVID-19, and 165 have died
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
New York City has recorded 1664 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day, taking the total number to 3615.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the shocking statistic in a press conference held Thursday afternoon, with the official number soaring by over 1000 in the hours since state Governor Andrew Cuomo updated the public earlier in the morning.
‘We’re seeing an explosion of cases here in New York City,’ de Blasio stated, adding that the numbers were ‘very, very painful’ to learn about.
The Mayor announced that 22 city residents have now died in relation to coronavirus, and 169 others remain in intensive care.
Chillingly, nearly half of all New York City residents who have tested positive to coronavirus are under the age of 50.
In his press conference, de Blasio also acknowledged that there was a ‘widespread community spread’ in all five boroughs – but acknowledged there was cluster of cases in Brooklyn, particularly in the Borough Park neighborhood.
More than 1000 cases have been confirmed in Brooklyn alone- up from the 157 that were recorded just 48 hours ago.
New York City now has more coronavirus cases than the entirety of the United Kingdom, which recorded 2626 cases as of Thursday evening.
New York City’s staggering numbers account for almost a third of the 11, 325 cases in United States.
On Thursday evening, New York state has recorded a total of 4152 cases, and is by far the worst affected state in the entire country.
Washington, with 1026 confirmed coronavirus cases is the second worst affected.
New York City has recorded 1664 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day, taking the total number to 3615, with Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the shocking statistic in a press conference held Thursday afternoon
Hospital personnel are pictured at a coronavirus screening tent outside the Brooklyn Hospital Center on Thursday
NYC residents line up to be screened for COVID-19 at Brookyn Hospital Center on Thursday
One New Yorker braved the subway on Thursday, despite the explosion in coronavirus cases
The usually bustling Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan was nearly deserted Thursday
Mayor de Blasio also confirmed that an inmate at Rikers Island prison had tested positive for COVID-19, and several other prisoners were exhibiting symptoms.
City officials have been fearful of the highly contagious coronavirus spreading through its prison systems, meaning that guards and other jail staff could be severely affected.
Meanwhile on Thursday morning, state Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered 75 per cent of non essential workers to now stay at home. That was up from 50 per cent Wednesday.
Cuomo also announced mortgage payments would be waived for 90 days for those in financial difficulties.
Comparing the pandemic to September 11, 2001, when more than 3,000 people lost their lives in a terror attack, Cuomo said the coronavirus ‘came out of the blue’ and ‘changed your perspective on the world safety’.
Warning younger people to stay home, he added: ‘It’s a moment that changes your whole life. The stress, the emotion is just incredible and rightly so.
‘It reminds me of 9/11 where one moment which was inconceivable changed everything. It is hard living your life when there is a question mark that big. It’s not just you, it has changed everything.’