Some hope in New York as death count exceeds 4,000

A slight dip in new coronavirus deaths in New York over last 24 hours may be a slight glimmer of hope that spre is slowing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday as overall fatalities in state climbed to nearly 4,200. Cuomo said it was too soon to determine wher pandemic h reached its apex.

"We could eir be very near apex, or apex could be a plateau and we could be on plateau right w," Cuomo said.

state reported 594 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday — a small decrease compared to 630 new fatalities anunced day before. ICU missions and intubations were also down, goverr said, while discharge rate from hospitals was rising.

Cuomo sounded cautiously optimistic even as he urged New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue hering to strict social distancing policies in place.

" coronavirus is truly vicious," he said. "It's an effective killer. People who are very vulnerable must stay isolated and protected."

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.