ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo says the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in New York continues to increase but so is the discharge rate in state hospitals.
As of Sunday morning, 74 percent of those hospitalized have been released, according to the governor. So far, 12,187 patients have been discharged.
Currently, 122,031 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state, which is an increase of 8,327 positive cases. Of those cases, 16,479 people are currently hospitalized, and 4,376 patients are in ICU.
Cuomo says the number of coronavirus-related deaths is still increasing. However, over the past few days, the number of deaths has been going down for the first time.
Cuomo says the significance of this information is too early to tell, but the governor added that based on current data, New York State might be near the apex or a plateau in coronavirus cases. The governor says they will learn more about this over the next few days.
At this time 4,159 people have died from COVID-19 in the state.
The governor also announced that the federal government is deploying approximately 1,000 personnel to help the state's overwhelmed hospital systems New York State. This includes doctors, nurses, respiratory technicians and therapists. Cuomo says the first 325 personnel will be deployed to the New York City hospital system on Sunday.
"The operational challenge facing our health care system at the apex of the curve is impossible - we are asking our hospitals to do more than ever before with less equipment, supplies and staff, but we don't have any other options," Cuomo said.
"We are continuing to operate on a surge and flex system where all our hospitals across the state are working together as one and sharing resources, and we are receiving help from other states, businesses and the federal government to boost our system's capacity, including 1,000 federal personnel to work in our most stressed hospitals. I know how much we are asking of our health care workers on the front line, and I thank them for everything they are doing because they are true heroes."