Photo: Covid-19 Testing, Elmhurst Hospital (Queens Post)
March 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Queens has the largest number of cases of coronavirus in New York City — which has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., according to New York City data released last night.
There were 3,848 cases of COVID-19 in the World’s Borough as of 5 p.m. Monday. Brooklyn had 3,742 cases, Manhattan 2,646 cases, the Bronx 1,999 cases and Staten Island had 877 cases, according to the City’s Department of Health.
In total, New York City had 13,119 cases of coronavirus and 125 related-deaths.
The numbers are rising dramatically, partially due to increased testing. More than 33,000 New York City residents had been tested as of Monday morning.
Just a week ago, the City had only 814 cases, with 248 in Queens. A week before that, the citywide number had just hit the double digits.
The influx of cases has led the State to impose a near shutdown — with only essential businesses allowed to remain open — in order to reduce social interactions where the virus could spread.
Both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have warned of the City’s hospital system becoming overwhelmed with coronavirus patients.
Each has worked to find — and even build — more hospital beds, enlist additional healthcare workers, and gather medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
Yesterday, de Blasio announced the City was receiving 400 ventilators from the federal government. Ventilators are needed to help critical patients infected with the coronavirus breathe.
The mayor called them “the single most important, most urgently needed piece of equipment.”
However de Blasio said the city would need 15,000 ventilators by the end of May. Without the supplies, New Yorkers would die who didn’t need to die, he said last week.
