KEY POINTS

  • New coronavirus hotspots emerging near New York City
  • New Jersey reported 200 new coronavirus deaths on Saturday
  • Long Island is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases

New York City is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country with the highest number of cases. However, officials believe that new COVID-19 hotspots are rising near New York City.

According to the New York Times, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said that the jump in coronavirus cases on Long Island is like “a fire spreading.” He added that New Jersey has problems. New Jersey reported 200 new deaths on Saturday, taking the death toll to 846.

New Jersey’s Governor Philip D. Murphy stated that the coastal communities had witnessed a rise in people coming in from other hotspots. He announced that New Jersey would simplify for counties or municipalities to block “ rentals to transient guests or seasonal tenants” for at least the duration of the ongoing crisis.

Cuomo said that Long Island is the area that is seeing a rise in cases. “You see Long Island goes from 16% to 17% to 18% and 19% to 20% to 22%. New York City is actually dropping as the number of cases in New York City, and in Long Island increases as a percentage of cases within the state. For us, this is about tracking the virus tracking the spread of the virus, and then deploying as the numbers suggest, in terms of beds,” Cuomo said, CBS New York reported.

Several states are taking measures to stop coronavirus transmissions from hot spots. Governor of Rhode Island tried to issue guidelines enforcing New Yorkers to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Law enforcement officers were asked to conduct a door-to-door search for anyone from the state and also stop vehicles with New York license plates.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Governor Kate Brown announced that Oregon would be sending 140 ventilators to help New Yorkers.

“New York needs more ventilators, and we are answering their call for help.

We'll be sending 140 ventilators to help NY because Oregon is in a better position right now. We must do all that we can to help those on the front lines of this response,” Brown tweeted.

Officials in New York, the worst affected part of the US, began advising people to wear masks some days ago, and there were signs on the streets that the advice was being heeded
Officials in New York, the worst affected part of the US, began advising people to wear masks some days ago, and there were signs on the streets that the advice was being heeded AFP / Angela Weiss
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