After witnessing an unprecedentedly difficult months where it saw more than 20,000 die due to coronavirus, New York City has for the first time since March recorded zero confirmed deaths.?
According to the city's health records, there were zero confirmed coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, with three deaths listed as having a ¡°probable¡± connection to COVID-19. Those probable deaths could later be reclassified as confirmed as more information emerges.??
Despite still battling the virus, the news offers a glimmer of hope to New Yorkers who¡¯ve been awash in tragedy for months.
It comes as the city continues to be racked with confrontations between police and civil rights protesters and looting. That chaos has made many political observers worry about the city¡¯s plans to re-open some businesses on Monday.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday said several days and nights of demonstrations in the state after the killing of George Floyd could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus, and urged protesters to get tested.
He added that people should wear masks and inform other people that they have been exposed to the coronavirus. ¡°If you were at one of those protests, I would, out of an abundance of caution, assume that you¡¯re infected and tell people,¡± he said at?a news briefing.??
While the course of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have slowed, Cuomo emphasized the importance of staying vigilant as the state continues reopening in phases.
¡°We¡¯re making great progress, but as fast as these numbers come down is as fast as those numbers go up,¡± he said.
¡°New York City had the highest number of protesters. We have to be smart. The protesters themselves could wind up causing the spike, so we have to be smart,¡± he said.
As heated protests continue to shake Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs, New York City extended its curfew through the end of the week.The curfews take effect at 8 p.m. and will be lifted at 5 a.m. The city is still on track to begin ¡°phase one¡± reopening on June 8.