Health and Science

Watch live: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak

Key Points
  • New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a press conference Thursday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 81,803 people in New York City.
  • On Wednesday, de Blasio said the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York City appear to have stabilized and reduced the immediate need for ventilators.
  • He added that the city needs to "double down" on social distancing measures that are helping to curb the pandemic. 

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a press conference Thursday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 81,803 people in New York City.

On Wednesday, de Blasio said the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York City appear to have stabilized and reduced the immediate need for ventilators. He added that the city needs to "double down" on social distancing measures that are helping to curb the pandemic. 

"We know we're not out of the woods; it's too early," de Blasio said Wednesday, cautioning that the data should not be used to draw "bigger conclusions."

De Blasio said earlier this week the number of coronavirus patients being placed on ventilators has been better than expected, giving the city precious time to secure needed supplies for a wave of patients expected to hit local hospitals in the next few weeks.

He said the improvement in the number of ventilators needed was apparent Monday, buying the city more time to get more ventilators.

"We'll have to see in the days ahead if it's something that's sustained and something that deepens," he said at a press conference in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday. "But I want to at least note a little improvement in the last few days and thank God for that."

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.