New York registers daily deaths under 550 for first time in almost two weeks

If you look at the past three days, you could argue that we are past the plateau when we're starting to descend, which would be very good news, Governor Cuomo said.

People wait for a distribution of masks and food from the Rev. Al Sharpton in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, after a new state mandate was issued requiring residents to wear face coverings in public due to COVID-19. (Photo | AP)

NEW YORK: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said that the state appears to be past the 'plateau' on the coronavirus infection curve and is "starting to descend", as hospitalisations continue to decline and the daily death toll dropped under 550 for the first time in almost two weeks.

"Hospitalisation numbers are down (and that is) good news," Cuomo said at his daily coronavirus press briefing on Saturday, noting that the number of people getting hospitalised from the virus continues to fall from around 18,000 to currently 16,000, the emergency rooms have fewer people in them and the ICU admissions and intubations continue to be down.

"If you look at the past three days, you could argue that we are past the plateau when we're starting to descend, which would be very good news.

Again, it's only three days but that's what the numbers would start to suggest," he said, while cautioning that even if the state is not at a plateau anymore, "we're still not in good position."

He said the state continues to witness the 'tragic' news of daily deaths.

An additional 540 people died on April 17, which is 'not as high as it was' but still suggests that the health crisis is far from over.

New York State had reported 606 deaths on April 15, which was the lowest figure then in 10 days.

Of the 540 deaths, 504 people had passed away at hospitals and 36 in nursing homes, which Cuomo said are the 'single biggest fear in all of this' because of all the vulnerable people in one place.

"It is the feeding frenzy for this virus despite everything we can do in the best efforts of people who are working in those nursing homes and are doing a fantastic job," he said.

New York City, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak in the US, has 131,263 confirmed virus cases and more than 8,890 deaths and another 4,309 probable deaths, people who did not have a positive COVID-19 laboratory test, but their death certificate lists as the cause of death "COVID-19" or an equivalent.