Patriarch Filaret, former honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, founder and current Patriarch of once again the second non-canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kiev Patriarchate, was confirmed to be a positive case of COVID-19. He becomes the first independent and non-canonical autocephalous leader or patriarch in the Eastern Orthodox faith to contract the disease. Months earlier, he had stated that the pandemic was God's punishment for same-sex marriage, which is currently not legally-recognized in Ukraine. Activists say homophobia is still widespread in the national culture. 2020-09-8
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirms that 728 people died from coronavirus in New York. 2020-03-28
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that eight hospitals will be built as the number of cases in New York surge. 2020-03-27