NYC passes the grim milestone of 25K COVID deaths as Gov. Cuomo reduces quarantine period for people exposed to virus from 14 to 10 days in line with CDC guidelines and reveals statewide positivity is 7.14%
New York City hit another grim milestone on Tuesday as officials announced that deaths linked to coronavirus have now surpassed 25,000.
The city's health department confirmed that there have now been 25,055 fatalities from confirmed or likely cases of COVID-19 in the Big Apple.
It came as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state is updating its quarantine guidelines for those exposed to the virus, decreasing the required quarantine period from 14 days to ten.
Cuomo is relaxing the rules despite the statewide positivity rate reaching 7.14 percent as of Tuesday.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that the state is updating its quarantine guidelines for those exposed to the virus, decreasing the required quarantine period from 14 days to ten as long as the person has not shown symptoms
On Tuesday, New York City surpassed 25,000 deaths linked to coronavirus, a grim new milestone. Pictured, bodies are moved to a temporary morgue in Brooklyn
'It's incredibly painful. These are people who were part of our families, part of communities,' NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio said of the shocking milestone in deaths during his Tuesday press briefing.
'It's shocking still.'
He added that he hoped the vaccine will help life return to normal in 2021.
'We're going to turn the page on this godforsaken year. Next year will be the year of recovery, rebirth,' de Blasio said.
According to the city's figures, which differ from those recorded by the state, New Yorkers are testing positive at a rate of 7.45 percent after the holidays.
The city recorded 3,390 new cases and 182 new hospitalizations on Tuesday.
Yet according to the state's figures, New York City has on average maintained a percentage of positive test results below five percent over the past three days.
Higher percentages are being seen in Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx, however, as Manhattan maintains a positivity rate below three percent.
Statewide, Gove Cuomo announced Tuesday that the positive rate is at 7.14 percent as 11,438 new cases were confirmed and hospitalizations rose to 7,814.
There were also 124 new deaths bringing the New York total to 29,756.
Yet Cuomo revealed that despite the climb in cases, the state was going to lessen the restrictions New Yorkers exposed to the virus to align with new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Contol.
Those exposed who did not get a COVID-19 test will be able to end their quarantine after ten days, if not showing symptoms.
They will be asked to simply monitor for sypmtoms over the remaining four days.
'As we approach the New Year and the end of the holiday season, all New Yorkers must remember one simple truth - celebrating smart stops shutdowns,' Cuomo said of the update.
'While the holidays have always been synonymous with socialization, the data shows vast majority of new cases are stemming from private gatherings.
I understand not being able to join together with loved ones makes an already trying year, more difficult, but it also means we control our own destiny,' the governor added.
'New York is leading the nation in quickly and efficiently administering the vaccine, so if we can continue that progress and the rest of us keep making smart decisions like avoiding gatherings, socially distancing and wearing masks, we will finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel.'
Cases in New York City have now reached a total of 421,840 with the death toll at 25,055.
New York state has 943,990 cases and 29,721 deaths.
And nationwide, more than 19.4 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus and there have been 336,947 deaths.
