NEW YORK (AP) - New York state posted a record-breaking increase in coronavirus deaths for a third consecutive day even as a surge of patients in overwhelmed hospitals slowed.
The number of deaths rose by 799 to more than 7,000.
The snapshot of hospitalizations shows a less dire picture. The net 200-patient increase in hospitalizations “is the lowest number we’ve had since this nightmare started,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Still, the governor and health officials warned that New Yorkers shouldn’t relax and stop social distancing, saying only strict adherence gave the state a chance to lower fatalities.
Here are other developments in New York’s coronavirus crisis:
PAY FREEZE
The state is delaying pay raises for about 80,000 state workers for three months as it deals with the loss of up to $15 billion in revenue from the outbreak-related economic downturn.
The move is expected to save about $50 million for the state, which will see if the raises can go into effect later, said Division of Budget spokesman Freeman Klopott.
Cuomo said Thursday he had two choices: layoffs or a pay freeze.
The state’s largest public workers union expressed outrage.
“It’s inexcusable to require our workers to literally face death to ensure the state keeps running and then turn around and deny those very workers their much-deserved raise in this time of crisis,” said Civil Service Employees Association President Mary Sullivan.
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CELEBRATING ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Buildings in New York, and in other places around the U.S., were being lit blue Thursday night in honor of essential workers.
Organizers of the #LightItBlue campaign said about 150 landmark buildings, skyscrapers and sports venues agreed to participate, including One World Trade Center in New York, Houston’s Minute Maid Park, the Staples Center in Los Angeles and Soldiers Field in Chicago.
The project was put together by the Thinkwell Group, a design and production agency.
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UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
New York is overhauling a decades-old unemployment benefits system that’s left many applicants frustrated.
Google helped New York design a revamped application webpage for launching Thursday evening, and the state has added 300 more workers to its 700-person staff to process claims.
The Department of Labor’s system has crashed because of the historical surge in claims.
“Government shuts down the private sector economy. You have millions out of work,” Cuomo said Thursday. “The next shoe to drop is going to be millions of people call in for unemployment benefits crashing the system that handles the unemployment benefits because you’ve had a hundred fold increase, which is what has happened.”
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FUNERALS
Amid the horrific death toll, Cuomo announced he’ll issue an executive order to ease licensing rules to help bring out-of-state funeral directors to New York.
“It’s gotten to the point, frankly, that we’re going to go into bring in additional funeral directors to deal with the number of people who have passed,” Cuomo said. “If you ever told me that as governor, I would have to take these actions. I couldn’t even contemplate where we are now.”
New York City has dealt with the crisis with refrigerator trucks and temporary mortuaries to store bodies.
It has also shortened the amount of time it will hold unclaimed remains. The medical examiner’s office says it will now keep bodies in storage for just 14 days before they’re buried in the city’s potter’s field on Hart Island.
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