Covid-19 deaths continue to drop across New York – Buffalo News

The number of New Yorkers dying daily from Covid-19 keeps falling.

Eighty-four people across the state died Friday of Covid-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday during a briefing in the governor’s mansion in Albany.

Of those who died Friday, 22 were in nursing homes with the rest in hospitals, he said.

“Eighty-four is still a tragedy, no doubt, but the fact that it’s down as low as it is is really, overall, good news,” Cuomo said.

The daily number of deaths in New York has been dropping for more than a month.

There were days in early April when more than 700 people a day died of Covid-19 in the state. On April 22, 438 people died. Just a week ago, on May 15, the number who died totaled 157.

Cuomo on Friday signed an executive order that permitted gatherings of up to 10 people, regardless of nature or purpose. The move followed two announcements earlier in the week allowing similar gatherings for Memorial Day and events of a religious nature.

Those in the small gatherings must adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear masks, under Cuomo’s executive orders.

Just because the state now allows gatherings of up to 10 people doesn’t mean people have to start participating in them, Cuomo said Saturday.

Individuals should understand the risks of passing the virus increase as the number of people who get together grows, and people have to make judgments on whether the potential reward justified the risk, the governor said.

What people decide to do today will affect what happens with the spread of Covid-19 down the line, he said.

“If you don’t have to be with a group of 10 people, don’t be with a group of 10 people,” he said.

The five-county region of Western New York, including Erie County, began the gradual reopening process on Tuesday. The region is one of seven of the state’s 10 regions that has started to reopen.

The Mid Hudson region will reopen on Tuesday while Long Island is on track to reopen Wednesday, Cuomo said.

Watch the governor’s presentation given from the executive mansion in Albany on Saturday, which does not include portion of the briefing with questions from reporters:

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