Cuomo directs flags to be flown at half-staff for coronavirus victims

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Wednesday he would be directing flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Cuomo reported that 6,268 New Yorkers have died due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

“Just to put perspective on this, 9/11, which so many of us lived through in this state and in this nation, 2,753 lives were lost,” Cuomo said at his daily briefing. 

“I’m going to direct all flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of those we have lost to this virus,” he added. 

At the same briefing, Cuomo said 779 New Yorkers had died from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, marking the largest single-day increase. 

New York has been the state hit the hardest by the pandemic, followed by New Jersey. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed an executive order last week directing flags to be lowered half-staff “indefinitely” in honor of those who died of the disease.