STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island has now lost more people in connection to the coronavirus (COVID-19) than on Sept. 11, city data shows.
As of Saturday at 9 a.m., a total of 289 people have lost their lives in connection to the virus -- 14 more than on Sept. 11, 2001 when 275 Staten Islanders died
Since Friday morning -- when the total deaths were at 260 -- Staten Island has lost 29 more people to COVID-19, data shows.
The Advance/SILive.com, which had previously used data from the borough’s two hospital systems, is now using the city’s numbers.
The fatality total does not include individuals who have died at home and were not tested for the coronavirus.
Overall, 5,463 people have died in New York City.
STATEN ISLAND CASES INCREASE OVERNIGHT
Cases in the borough also increased, with 234 more Islanders testing positive in a 24-hour period for the virus.
Staten Island now has 7,213 total cases, representing once again the highest rate in New York City.
Based on that total and 2018 Census data projections, 1,515 of every 100,000 Staten Islanders have tested positive for the virus so far.
The Bronx has the second highest rate with 1,471 of every 100,000 testing positive for COVID-19.
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On a more positive note, hospitalizations at the borough’s hospitals remain stable for the second day in a row with the number of people being treated for the coronavirus standing at 490, with one fewer patient since yesterday, according to data the Advance/SILive.com obtained from both Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) and Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH).
Currently, RUMC is caring for 169 positive patients, of which 59 are in the intensive care unit, a spokesman for the hospital said.
A total of 150 patients were treated and released from the West Brighton facility, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, SIUH currently has 259 coronavirus patients at the Ocean Breeze location and 62 at the Prince’s Bay location, a spokeswoman for the hospital said.
Overall, both SIUH facilities treated and released 661 patients, the spokeswoman added.