New York City has reported its first day of zero Coronavirus deaths since the state’s first official recorded death on March 11, NBC New York reports.
Once the nation’s epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene indicates that no one died from the virus on Saturday (July 11), however, there were two probable deaths.
The highest number of deaths statewide reportedly hit 799 fatalities on April 9 with a total of 24,000 Coronavirus casualties and counting.
New York City has a reported total of 18,670 confirmed deaths from the pandemic so far.
On Sunday (July 12), the state of Florida reported more than 15,000 positive cases of the virus in a single day, clearing the record previously held by New York.
The city launched phase three of reopening on July 6, allowing for nail salons, tanning studios and dog runs to open up for business again. Indoor dining remains postponed and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered travelers from certain states to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Governor Cuomo is also urging New York residents to keep wearing masks and maintain social distancing practices. He recently warned that the virus could peak again.
Black and Hispanic New Yorkers have been hit the worst by the virus and have died at more than twice the rate of white people and Asians.
To prepare for another possible uptick, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city is currently building out a reserve of ventilators, protective equipment, COVID-19 test kits, and over 18 million shelf-stable meals.
According to The New York Times, new cases of Coronavirus in the United States increased 53 percent for a total of 60,768 infections as of Saturday (July 11) and deaths were up 25 percent for a total of 675 dead.