STATEN ISLAND -- The number of Staten Islanders to die from the coronavirus (COVID-19) reached 28 on Thursday, surpassing the death toll of Hurricane Sandy after the deadliest 24 hours on the borough since the onset of the pandemic.
Staten Island University Hospital’s system (SIUH) has seen 23 deaths — an increase of six since Wednesday, and five have died at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) — an increase in one death over the same span, according to hospital spokesmen.
The seven deaths in a single day surpasses the borough’s previous high of six in a day, which occurred between March 22 and March 23, and March 23 and March 24.
There are 189 confirmed coronavirus patients hospitalized within the borough’s two hospital systems, an increase of 39 since Wednesday when the total was 150. There were 112 patients hospitalized 48 hours ago, the Advance/SILive.com reported.
Jillian O’Hara, an SIUH spokeswoman, said 113 individuals are currently hospitalized at the system’s campus in Ocean Breeze, with an additional 31 hospitalized in Prince’s Bay.
Alex Lutz, a spokesman for RUMC, said that 45 individuals are hospitalized at the West Brighton hospital, including eight in the Intensive Care Unit.
STATEN ISLAND CORONAVIRUS RATE FALLS TO THIRD IN NYC
There are currently 1,276 positive coronavirus cases on Staten Island, the New York City Department of Health said as of 8:45 a.m. on Thursday — an increase of 192 cases since a day ago. There was an increase of 131 the day prior.
Based on positive tests, which officials have stressed does not necessarily reflect the full spread of the virus, 268 of every 100,000 Staten Islanders have tested positive for the virus, according to 2018 Census data projections and Thursday morning data from the city’s Health Department — an increase of 40 residents per-100,000 since Wednesday.
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Queens now has the highest rate of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City, with 308 residents per 100,000 testing positive. The borough has 7,026 cases total, which accounts for 32% of the city’s total.
The Bronx, which has recently seen cases sharply rise, has a rate of 274 infections per every 100,000 residents — the second-highest in the city, despite being the borough with the second-lowest population. The Bronx has 3,924 total cases, city Health Department data shows.
Staten Island now has the third-highest rate of positive coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents after having the highest rate in the city just a day ago.
Manhattan has the fourth-highest rate of coronavirus cases with 240 residents per 100,000 residents testing positive. There have been 3,907 positive cases in Manhattan, according to the city’s Health Department.
Brooklyn, despite having the largest population in New York City, has the lowest rate of infections per 100,000 residents at 221. However, the borough has the second highest total case total at 5,207, the NYC DOH daily briefing shows.
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITALS TO INCREASE CAPACITY
SIUH and RUMC both say they have ramped up their capacity in recent days as they ready to serve Staten Islanders during the most severe part of outbreak, the Advance/SILive.com reported.
At SIUH, officials said the hospital has the ability to double its current 72 ICU bed capacity and increase its 250 general hospital beds by 50% at the moment, for a total of 519 beds.
And at RUMC, the hospital is working to significantly increase its critical care — or ICU beds — from 26 to 71. The hospital is also working to ramp up its medical surge beds capacity from 128 to 239 general hospital beds, for a total of 310 beds.
“We’ve done everything in our power to plan for this and to actually increase the number of patients that we can actually see, and I do believe that we can meet the needs of this community, with help,” said SIUH’s Executive Director Dr. Brahim Ardolic.
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