New York state has reported its first death from the new coronavirus.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that the patient was an 82-year-old woman with emphysema who died at a hospital in New York City. She died on Friday. More than 500 New Yorkers have been diagnosed so far with COVID-19, the new illness that has sickened people around the globe. The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.
On a conference call with reporters, Cuomo said, "The infection rate will be massive. We know that....the question is, at what rate? And can you slow the rate to meet the hospital capacity. And that is the essential question for the nation."
Cuomo says he will sign an executive order today waiving the 180-day requirement for local school districts to receive funding from the state. He says it's up to local districts to decide to close unless they have a positive case, in which the school must close for 24 hours.
