NY, NJ governors urge caution on reopening amid high COVID-19 death toll

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo cautioned against prematurely reopening states, emphasizing the need for more data on the novel coronavirus before easing restrictions.

Cuomo stated that decisions should be based on facts and data, not emotions or political pressure, especially as New York remains the hardest-hit state.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy supported Cuomo's cautious approach, citing the high death toll as a reason not to rush economic reopening.

Despite a decline in hospitalizations, Murphy reiterated the need for continued positive trends before responsibly restarting New Jersey's economy.

While some states like Georgia and Texas are partially reopening, millions of Americans are seeking unemployment benefits.

New York is still reporting about 900 new daily coronavirus cases, and officials lack clarity on the sources of these infections.

A statewide antibody survey in New York indicated that 12.3% of the population had been previously infected.

Nationwide, the U.S. has surpassed 1.1 million infections and over 65,000 deaths, with some states and Puerto Rico reporting record daily new cases.