Latest coronavirus updates in New York: Thursday, May 7, 2020

by: PIX11 Web Team

Posted: May 7, 2020 / 05:34 AM EDT / Updated: May 7, 2020 / 02:46 PM EDT

People walk by ambulances parked outside NewYork–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in New York during the coronavirus pandemic. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says most COVID-19 patients coming into New York hospitals are not working and not traveling daily and tend to be older than 50.

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NEW YORK — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New York. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.

11:30 a.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo held his daily COVID-19 briefing. Watch in full below.

Total COVID-19 hospitalizations are down again, as are intubations and new hospitalizations
New York reports 231 new coronavirus deaths

Rent relief

New York extends moratorium on evictions an additional 60 day to Aug. 20. Read more here.
New York banning late payments or fees for missed payments during eviction moratorium period.
Renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 can now use their security deposit as payment, and repay their security deposit over time.
Cuomo says they are working now with banks on relief plans for landlords as well.

Hospital antibody testing results

Westchester: 6.8% of health care workers tested positive, versus 13.8% in general population
NYC: 12.2% of health care workers, versus 19.9% of general population
Long Island: 11.1% of health care workers, versus 11.4% of general population

Nourish New York Initiative: Connecting farms and those who need food

Nearly 50 food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries will receive support
Over 2,100 NY farms participating
Over 20,000 households across the state will receive Nourish NY products within the next week.
Over the next six months, Nourish NY will produce: 2.8 million gallons of milk, 8.2 million units of yogurt, 10.1 million pounds of apples and 10 million pounds of cabbage

9:30 a.m.
Mayor Bill de Blasio gives his daily coronavirus briefing. Watch in video below.

Even though New Yorkers are confident, the experience has uncertainty.
Uncertainty is directly related to the lack of testing.
Two kinds of testing: Diagnostic tests (do I have the disease right now?) and antibody testing (Did I get exposed to this disease in the past?)

Antibody testing

NYC launching our own antibody survey in partnership with BioReference to understand COVID-19 spread, provide NewYorkers with individual results. READ MORE.
280,000 will get antibody testing in just NYC
Free of charge, launching next week
Five initial testing sites: Morrisania, East New York, Upper Manhattan, Concord, Long island City
Up to 5,000 people per day. 70,000 over first two weeks
By appointment, scheduling opens this Friday by dedicated hotline
Individual results in 24-48 hours.

Expanding tele-medicine

Free Phone-a-clinician hotline 844-NYC-4NYC
H+H moving 80% of all ambulatory visits via tele-health for duration of crisis (16,000 a week)

Protecting homeless New Yorkers

Overnight subway outreach: 361 people engaged last night

End domestic and gender-based violence work group

NYC will augment its approach to prevent gender-based violence during COVID-19
Engage a diverse group of up to 20 citywide service providers, including shelter, legal services, counseling, mental health
24/7 domestic and gender based violence hotline: 1-800-621-4673

Key indicators

People admitted to hospitals: 79 down from 109 as of May 4
People in H+H ICUs: 567 down from 599 as of May 4
Citywide percetage of people testing positive: 16% up from 15%

Q&A

Antibody testing 140,000 NYC residents: It still involves the federal gov’t, but things are moving steadily in the right direction.
We should’ve had PCR testing from the beginning. “It is the center of the fight.”
Homelessness on subways: Many have expressed concerns about contracting COVID-19 and are finding shelter on buses.
Results we’re seeing in the past two days validate what we’re doing is working.
Dept. of Education has not put out high school plans: Administration has made it clear they’re reevaluating the admissions process.
Focus is getting the education system up and running.
Baseball: Don’t think baseball games are coming soon. “The day that baseball comes back to NYC” is going to be a great moment.
Spread of the virus: The virus came from multiple parts of the world into the United States. What was done and not done to stop the spread? The answer goes back to testing.
Restaurants, bars, nightclubs: Can’t give exact time frame. We’ll say more in the coming days as to reopening. There’s going to be different times and different guidelines for each business.
Limiting city park entry: Mayor de Blasio said NYC may limit the number of people Allowed into city parks to prevent overcrowding. Read more.

7:35 a.m.
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer spoke to the PIX11 Morning News on economic effects of COVID-19. Watch interview here.
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer spoke to the PIX11 Morning News on economic effects of COVID-19. Watch interview here.
6 a.m.
New Yorkers will get two more miles of open streets Thursday for pedestrians and cyclists:
New Yorkers will get two more miles of open streets Thursday for pedestrians and cyclists: