New York City Sees First Day Since March Without COVID-19 Death, Department Of Health Claims

New York City reported zero deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, the first such day since March, according New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio praised the development during a press conference on Monday.

"It's something that should make us hopeful, but it's very hard to take a victory lap because we know we have so much more ahead. This disease is far from beaten," de Blasio said. "And we look around the country and we look at what so many other Americans are going through and so many other states and cities hurting so bad right now. So no one can celebrate, but we can at least take a moment to appreciate that every one of you did so much to get us to this point."

New York City’s confirmed death toll from the virus is 18,708, with 4,615 probable deaths.

De Blasio also urged President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to speed up COVID-19 testing during the press briefing.

"Mr. President, all you have to do is say, 'I am now invoking the Defense Production Act to expand lab capacity in the United States of America, to make sure we have everything we need to get tests to people quickly.' You can do that with the stroke of a pen. We need it not only here in New York; we need it all over this country," de Blasio said.

Although Trump invoked the Act in March to boost the production of ventilators and masks, he has been reluctant to harness the power of the legislation. He has previously said using the Act could turn the United States into Venezuela, a country that has nationalized many of its major industries.

Coronavirus cases have spiked in other parts of the country, with Florida experiencing a rise of more than 15,000 cases on Sunday, a nationwide record. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered the closure of indoor businesses such as bars and restaurants due to the rise in new infections. California has had an average of 8,664 new cases per day over the past week.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. currently has more than 3.3 million cases of COVID-19, and a death toll over 135,000. The U.S. has had the most COVID-19 cases in the world since late March.