Gov.: Schools, 'non-essential' businesses must stay closed until April 29

Coronavirus cases soar past 15,600 in Nassau

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On Monday, Governor Cuomo ordered schools and non-essential businesses to remain closed until April 29 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Previously, they were to close until April 15.

At the same time, the governor raised the fine for violating social-distancing rules from $500 to $1,000.

"We havre to extend the New York Pause," the governor said. 
"Public health demands that we do this. There's a real danger in getting overconfident so quickly."
Restaurants and bars have been forced to offer grab-and-go service or home deliveries. Most school children are receiving lessons by computer at home.

 The news came as Nassau saw another jump in the number of Covid-19 cases, County Executive Laura Curran said. Cases surpassed 15,600 here, with 2,100 hospitalized. On Sunday, there were 14,400 cases.

Curran also said the number of dead was larger than previously thought. The county had projected the number at roughly 150 as of Saturday. The state, however, was reporting a higher figure. Curran said she is now going with the state’s number, as she said it has a faster means of verifying Nassau residents who have died.

The state puts the number of dead in Nassau at 381.

 “We mourn every loss,” Curran said.

On a hopeful note, the county executive said, there were 197 discharges from Nassau’s 11 hospitals — 121 more than were admitted overnight. That could indicate the hospitalization rate is dropping — and thus the county may see the peak of the crisis begin “to flatten.” It is too early to tell for certain, however, she noted.

Curran also warned against flushing nitrile gloves and sanitary wipes down the toilet because they clog the sewer lines. The county has seen a 35 percent increase in clogs in recent days.

— Jim Bernstein contributed to this story.