New York state reports highest number of coronavirus deaths in single day
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported 562 deaths in one day from COVID-19, the highest number in a single day. Cuomo also said wearing face masks couldn’t hurt, but people shouldn’t get a false sense of security from it. He stressed that everyone should continue to engage in social distancing and take other precautions.
Video Transcript
ANDREW CUOMO: The number of deaths-- highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started, 2,300 to 2,900 deaths. You see the totality for New York state, 102,000. New Jersey, California.
- [INAUDIBLE] face coverings?
ANDREW CUOMO: Dr. [? Zerger? ?]
- So there's no data to support the effectiveness of face masks. And I understand that usually we like to have-- base things on evidence, and unfortunately in difficult times like this, we have to go with expert opinion, and right now the data doesn't-- there isn't data to suggest whether masks, except for those who are ill and those who are health-care workers, and that's why we're reserving those for health-care workers.
- Well, last night you guys said he was pointing to a study that showed that there is evidence of that.
- Well, the evidence that-- like I was saying, that there's no clear evidence to suggest that face masks, whether made out of cloth or even by the general public using face masks. But we continue to look at the data all the time that's coming in, and we're examining that right now.
ANDREW CUOMO: I think it's-- let me ask the doctor for a qualified opinion. I think it's fair to say the masks couldn't hurt unless they gave you a false sense of security. You know, when a doctor talks about a mask, they're talking about a form-fitting mask that goes around your nose that doesn't allow any other air to come in. That's really what a mask is. So to ask a doctor, does a bandanna help-- I said to the doctor inside. I said, you know, I'll just get the bandannas that I wear when I ride my motorcycle. And he was like, yeah, that's not going to help.
This is what the doctor thinks of as a mask, right? But could it hurt? Might it help? I think it's fair to say yes, but don't get a false sense of security that now you don't have to social distance and you don't have to take the normal precautions because you're wearing a bandanna. Is that fair to say?
- That's absolutely fair to say.
