On Saturday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York has reached the apex and plateaued, as the number of positive coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and ICU admission rates are down. “What we’re experiencing is a product of our actions,” he said.

However the death toll continues to rise. 783 people died from the coronavirus across the state yesterday and 8,627 New Yorkers have died from the virus since the crisis began.

As of 5 P.M. Saturday, New York City's death toll from the virus is 5,742, according to city officials. There have been 98,715 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city, and an estimated 27,457 hospitalizations, according to officials.

Governor Cuomo says the state will engage pro-bono lawyers to help people with legal issues stemming from this whole catastrophe.

"The New York State court system and our chief judge is going to organize lawyers statewide to do pro bono legal assistance to help people with issues they may have - housing issues, access to government program issues, etcetera - and many legal issues are going to stem from this and many places where people need help, so lawyers who have time on their hands and are not working, they are looking for volunteers," said Cuomo.

Cuomo is also asking the federal government to repeal the SALT act, which caps the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal income. Cuomo called the plan “offensive and illegal,” saying it targets New York and other states.

Still, the governor said despite political differences with the president, he “really responded to New York’s needs,” and worked “efficiently” to meet the state’s needs.

Cuomo is also calling for more coronavirus testing and advanced testing, and demonstrated the need to be better prepared for situations like this.

Asked how and when the economy will reopen, Cuomo said it’s a public health question that is carefully being considered, along with the education system. “This is a time where our actions will literally determine life and death,” he said.

.@NYGovCuomo Executive Order giving State authority to overrule City has been extended to the end of April.



An @NYGovCuomo Administration official says they were given no heads up from @NYCMayor Administration about Mayor’s announcement this morning to keep schools closed. — Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) April 11, 2020

The governor was critical of the mayor’s announcement this afternoon that NYC schools will stay closed for the remainder of the school year. He said any decision on schools will be a coordinated effort. “It is my legal authority” to make decisions on schools, Cuomo said.

This is a developing story. Stay with NY1 for updates.