LIVE BLOG: Coronavirus updates from March 25 - April 2

Coronavirus updates from March 25, 2020 through April 2, 2020.

News 12 Staff

Apr 13, 2020, 4:18 PM

Updated 1,718 days ago

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LIVE BLOG: Coronavirus updates from March 25 - April 2
Below are coronavirus updates from March 25, 2020 through April 2, 2020. For the latest coronavirus live blog updates from News 12, visit: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond 
 
April 2, 5:58 p.m. President Trump says he took another COVID-19 test and tested negative.  
April 2, 5:35 pm. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says Americans will get COVID-19 stimulus money 'within two weeks' if they have direct deposit. More information on stimulus here
April 1, 7:56 p.m. Fountains of Wayne founder Adam Schlesinger, a New Jersey native, has died from complications from the coronavirus, according to a report in Variety.
April 1, 7:47 p.m. President Trump said during today's update that the U.S. is looking at building 2 hospital ships. He resisted calls for a nationwide stay-at-home order.
April 1, 5:32 p.m. Mayor Bill de Blasio welcomed back former NYPD Commissioner James “Jimmy” O’Neill Wednesday during his daily COVID-19 news conference, tasking him with managing the supply chain for New York City’s health care workers. O’Neill said he felt “compelled” to return to the city from San Francisco, where he had been working with Visa.
April 1, 5 p.m. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that a newborn child has died from COVID-19. Lamont says a 6-week-old from the Hartford area died after being found unresponsive late last week. Lamont says this is the first pediatric COVID-19 death in Connecticut. 
April 1, 2 p.m. The New York Islanders sent pizza over to hospital staff at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
April 1, 1:09 p.m. Gov. Tom Wolf has placed all of Pennsylvania under a stay-at-home order.
April 1, 1 p.m.  New York Gov. Cuomo says New York City playgrounds will close to enforce social distancing, but parks will remain open. The announcement came as Cuomo said New York's death toll had risen to at least 1,941.
April 1, 11 a.m. Wimbledon was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the first time since World War II that the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament won't be played.
March 31, 9 p.m. More than 5,600 NYPD officers are out sick and over 1,000 have tested positive for COVID-19, Police Chief Terence Monahan said in a tweet.
 
March 31, 6 p.m. - The White House projects 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the US from coronavirus pandemic if social distancing is maintained.
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March 31, 5:47 p.m.
Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his coronavirus update Tuesday from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, a facility that will soon have 350 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. The mayor announced that tax lien sales are being postponed until at least August, the suspension of alternate side parking rules are being extended through April 14 and 10 playgrounds are being closed due to too many people congregating in them.
March 31, 5:13 p.m. Connecticut officials are proposing a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments for those affected by coronavirus. This comes as the state reported 557 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
March 31, 5 p.m. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joined News 12 New Jersey to answer viewers' questions about the pandemic during a special Ask Gov. Murphy.
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March 31, 4:12 p.m. Westchester County Executive George Latimer discussed changes to Bee-Line Bus service during his coronavirus update.
March 31, 3:04 p.m. County Executive Steve Bellone says there are now 6,713 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Suffolk. Bellone says the number has increased by nearly 1,000 in 24 hours.
March 31, 2:30 p.m. The Legoland New York Resort in Goshen has pushed its opening back to 2021. The park was due to open this coming July.
March 31, 1:30 p.m.  Dr. Anthony Fauci said the White House coronavirus task force is looking into the idea of recommending broader, community-wide use of masks to deter the spread of coronavirus. Fauci said the task force first wants to make sure that such a move wouldn’t take away from the supply of masks available to health care workers.
March 31, 1:07 p.m. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a stockpile of ventilators and other equipment is being saved for the “apex of the curve,” which he says is coming within weeks. Cuomo said Tuesday that many established rules in health care and government need to be tossed out in the battle against COVID-19. He said there should be no distinction between private and public hospitals during the pandemic and that an unprecedented level of cooperation is needed to battle the virus that has claimed now 1,550 lives in New York.
March 31, 12:31 p.m. The U.S. death toll has climbed past 3,500, eclipsing China's official count. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported Tuesday that deaths in New York state had risen more than 300 from the day before, reaching about 1,550, mostly in New York City
March 31, 12:25 p.m. CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has tested positive for coronavirus. In a tweet, Cuomo said he was exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive. He is quarantined in his basement and says he will continue to do his shows from there.
March 31, 5:30 a.m. Macy's is expected to furlough the majority of its employees because of coronavirus pandemic. The company says the temporary layoffs will get underway this week, affecting more than half of its 125,000 workers.
March 30, 7:56 p.m. The FBI has reached out to Sen. Richard Burr about his sale of stocks before the coronavirus caused markets to plummet, according to an AP source.
March 30, 7:05 p.m. The first child to die from the coronavirus in New York City has been confirmed, according to NYC Health. 
March 30, 5:34 p.m. Wanaque Mayor Michael Mahler says eight residents of the Lakeland nursing home have died from COVID-19.
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March 30, 1:44 p.m. "There is no American who is immune to this virus ... what is happening to New York is not an anomaly." Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York cases up to 66,497 and NY deaths up to 1,218. Sought help from health care professionals outside the state to provide relief to state's health care professionals.
March 30, 10:12 a.m. The USNS Comfort, a 1,000-bed hospital ship, has arrived in Manhattan.  Although it will not receive COVID-19 patients, it will treat patients from hospitals to help free room for coronavirus patients.  
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March 30, 7:48 a.m. Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony rescheduled for July 23, 2021; closing ceremony on Aug. 8.
March 29, 10:20 a.m. The U.S. government's foremost infection disease expert says the United States could experience 100,000 to 200,000 deaths and millions of infections from the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci gave the prognosis on CNN's “State of the Union” program on Sunday. But he added, “I don't want to be held to that” because the pandemic is “such a moving target.” 
 March 28, 8:35 p.m. President Trump said Saturday evening that a federal quarantine for the tri-state area "will not be necessary," after he said earlier in the day that it was under consideration. Instead, he says the CDC will issue a "strong travel advisory."

March 28, 8:18 p.m. 
The U.S. leads the world in reported COVID-19 cases with more than 120,000. Confirmed deaths in the U.S. surpassed 2,000 on Saturday, twice the number of just two days before, according to the Associated Press.
March 27, 2:25 p.m. NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the temporary hospital at the Javits Center will be open Monday.
March 27, 1:32 p.m. The House has passed a $2.2 trillion rescue bill to help the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.  The measure now heads to President Trump for his signature.  Here's what it means for you.
March 27, 12:40 p.m. News 12 investigative reporter Walt Kane provides answers to viewers' questions about the stimulus package and other coronavirus concerns in a special Consumer Alert Q&A. This week's Consumer Alert also debunks several social media claims regarding the coronavirus: READ HERE.
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March 27, 11:45 a.m. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says schools will remain closed statewide until at least April 15.
March 27, 7:30 a.m Spain reports a record number of daily virus deaths at 769, but an official says that the country's new infections are easing.
March 27, 7:20 a.m. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Johnson's office says he was tested after showing mild symptoms. Downing St. says Johnson is self-isolating and continuing to lead the country's response to COVID-19.
 
March 26, 10:30 p.m. President Donald Trump says federal officials are developing guidelines to rate counties by risk of virus spread. Trump wants to begin easing nationwide guidelines meant to stem the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter Thursday to the nation's governors, Trump says the new guidelines are meant to enable state and local leaders to make “decisions about maintaining, increasing, or relaxing social distancing and other measures they have put in place.” States would still have authority to set restrictions.
March 26, 8:45 p.m. The NYPD announced a custodial assistant with the department for 14 years has died due to the coronavirus. They say he is the first NYPD member to die from COVID-19.
 
March 26, 8 p.m. The Long Beach Boardwalk on Long Island has closed until further notice. City Council President John Bendo said the move was necessary as cases grew.
March 26, 7:41 p.m. The U.S. now leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 82,000.
March 26, 5:49 p.m. President Trump says hospital ship USNS comfort is expected to arrive in New York City on Monday.
March 26, 5:30 p.m. New York City Mayor de Blasio on providing health care workers with necessary equipment: "You deserve, and you must have, and you will have the supplies you need. One way or another, we are going to get them to you every day." The mayor called Elmhurst Hospital in Queens the "epicenter within the epicenter" of the COVID-19 crisis. "In the past 10 days, we have four times resupplied Elmhurst Hospital with additional ventilators." 
 
March 26, 4:17 p.m. Putnam County confirmed 16 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 109.
March 26, 3:14 p.m. Dutchess County has confirmed its second coronavirus-related death. The county says a 71-year-old male died Wednesday at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cornwall. 
March 26, 2:31 p.m. New Jersey state officials announce 2,492 new cases of COVID-19 - 6,876 total. Nineteen have died in New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy says schools will be closed until at least April 17. By that date, the closings will be "revisited."
March 26, 12 p.m. Gov. Andrew Cuomo scolded governmental leaders in Washington during his COVID-19 update Thursday morning, saying that the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus does not help local or state governments.
March 26, 10:56 a.m President Donald Trump has approved New Jersey's Disaster Declaration because of the coronavirus pandemic.
March 26, 8:30 a.m. Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week - more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982 - amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus.
March 25, 11:55 p.m.,  Senate passes $2.2 trillion economic rescue package in response to coronavirus pandemic. The House will vote on Friday.
March 25, 11:15 p.m. Johns Hopkins University tally shows U.S. death toll from coronavirus surpasses 1,000.
March 25, 8:15 p.m.  The Clintons sent pizzas to all of the hospitals in Westchester - more than 400 pies - as a token of their appreciation for everything medical professionals are doing for their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
March 25, 7:37 p.m. President Trump said he has approved major disaster declarations for New York, California, Washington, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas and Florida.
March 25, 7:12 p.m. Mayor Bill de Blasio says there are 17,856 positive COVID-19 cases in New York City, which constitutes 54% of all New York state cases. It's also 32% of all cases in the U.S. During Wednesday's news conference he blasted the stimulus package for the portion going to New York City - calling it immoral.
March 25, 3:05 p.m. Chef Floyd Cardoz, who won “Top Chef Masters” and operated successful restaurants in both India and New York, died Wednesday of complications from the coronavirus. He was 59. He had been admitted a week ago to Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, New Jersey, with a fever and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.
March 25, 2:49 p.m. Gov. Phil Murphy announced 736 new positive COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, increasing the total to 4,402 statewide. He also announced 18 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing that total to 62 statewide. Gov. Murphy says that day cares that wish to remain open can only do so if they certify that they will only care for children of essential workers. Day cares that won't commit must close by April 1.
March 25, 2:43 p.m. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says there are 2,260 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. He says 7,763 residents have been tested, with 28.7% of those confirmed positive. 
March 25, 2:31 p.m.: The 74th annual Tony Awards postponed. The awards show was scheduled to air live on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 7 from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. It will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date.
 
March 25, 11:36 p.m. Gov. Cuomo says the evidence suggests the density control measures may be working. Projections show that on Sunday, hospitalizations were doubling every two days. On Monday, it was up to every 3.4 days. Yesterday, it was 4.7 days. "That is almost too good to be true." Although the governor says he doesn't place a great deal of stock in the projections, he says it's a "very good sign." "The arrows are heading in the right directions," says Cuomo. At least 30,811 New York residents have tested positive for COVID-19. 3,805 (12% of cases) are hospitalized. 888 of those patients are in ICU. 
March 25, 6:43 a.m. Spain surpasses China in the overall number of coronavirus deaths, now second to only Italy.
March 25, 6:39 a.m. UK palace says heir to the throne Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus, has mild symptoms.
March 25, 1:08 a.m. Congressional leaders, White House reach deal on massive coronavirus relief package.
March 24, 8:08 p.m. Los Angeles County has reported what may be the first confirmed U.S. death of a child from coronavirus.