Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday took the blame off of himself and instead partially blamed the media and experts for failing to alert the public sooner about the threat of the coronavirus when it was uncovered in China.

“Governors don’t do global pandemics, but there’s a whole international, national health community that would do that," Cuomo said at his daily coronavirus press briefing. "Where were all the experts? Where was the New York Times, where was the Wall Street Journal, where was all the bugle blowers who should say, 'Be careful, there’s a virus in China that may be in the United States?' That was in November, December.”​ 

Cuomo's remarks Tuesday followed comments he had made the night before in an interview with Axios. The governor said that he wished he had acted sooner in responding to the spread of the virus.

"I wish someone stood up and blew the bugle. And if no one was going to blow the bugle, I would feel much better if I was a bugle blower last December and January," he said. "I would feel better sitting here today, saying, 'I blew the bugle about Wuhan province in January.' I can't say that.” 

After the governor’s comments Tuesday, New York Times Metro Editor Jorge Arangure responded on Twitter, saying the Times wrote 450 stories about coronavirus between January 9 and March 1.

Meanwhile, the governor also rolled out updated antibody testing numbers, revealing that 31 percent of those tested in New York City have antibodies present, indicating they were exposed to the virus. The statistics show much lower numbers in more rural parts of the state.

Cuomo said there were fewer than 1,000 hospitalizations for new cases of the disease statewide in the last 24 hours.

However, there were 335 deaths, lower than the day before, but still remarkably high.

According to New York City officials, citywide as of 6 p.m. Monday there were:

  • 157,713 confirmed cases of COVID-19
  • An estimated 40,578 hospitalizations
  • 17,215 deaths (11,820 confirmed and 5,395 probable).

 From 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday in the city:

  • Confirmed cases increased by 1,613
  • Estimated hospitalizations increased by 528
  • Deaths increased by 279 (112 confirmed and 167 probable)

 The borough-by-borough breakdown of confirmed cases, with some fluctuation in the numbers:

  • Queens: 48,847 confirmed cases
  • Brooklyn: 41,744
  • The Bronx: 35,860
  • Manhattan: 19,672
  • Staten Island: 11,520

 New York state reported, as of midnight Monday:

  • 295,106 confirmed coronavirus cases
  • A total of 17,638 deaths (the state is not currently including probable coronavirus fatalities in its count).

 From midnight Sunday to midnight Monday in New York state:

  • Confirmed cases increased by 3,110
  • Deaths increased by 335

New York state’s confirmed daily coronavirus death count has been under 370 for the past three days and under 500 for the past nine days. Earlier this month, the state reported nearly 800 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

-----

FURTHER CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19

How Hospitals Protect Against the Spread of Coronavirus

Coronavirus Likely Spreads Without Symptoms

Coronavirus: The Fight to Breathe

Cuomo Orders Non-Essential Workers to Stay Home

NYC Businesses to Be Fined If Caught Price Gouging Face Masks

MTA Crews Cleaning to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

Cuomo Granted Broad New Powers as New York Tackles Coronavirus