NEW YORK CITY has suffered over 1,200 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak (Pexel photo by Quintin Gellar).

Governors of New York and California are sending out pleas for medical volunteers to help cope with the rising number of coronavirus cases.

“Please come help us in New York now,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “We’ve lost over 1,000 New Yorkers. To me, we’re beyond staggering already. We’ve reached staggering.”

Two hundred fifty deaths were recorded from the disease in one day. Even before the plea, 80,000 health care professionals have volunteered, but Cuomo said that 1 million may be needed.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom noted that hospitalizations doubled in the last four days, according to the Associated Press.

“If you’re a nursing school student, a medical school student, we need you,” he said. “If you’ve just retired in the last few years, we need you.”

Other developments in the coronavirus outbreak include:

• President Donald Trump said the federal government was sending another 1,000 ventilators to Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana and Connecticut.
• A church pastor in Florida was arrested Monday for holding two Sunday services with hundreds of people in attendance despite a public health emergency order against such gatherings.
• The federal Department of Homeland Security has issued an “advisory” declaring that gun shops were essential businesses and need not close in the face of “stay-at-home” and business closure orders.

The move was advocated by gun rights organizations and criticized by gun control advocates and some public health providers. The statement was classified as “advisory” and not necessarily binding on states and cities.

More eligibility for spring sports athletes

College athletes playing spring sports for schools in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association will get an extra year of eligibility.

The Division I Council decided on Monday to give that extra opportunity because of the disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak that has shut down many colleges and universities and suspended seasons for sports such as baseball, softball, lacrosse and men’s volleyball.

Winter sports such as basketball were not included because a substantial part of that season of play was completed before the crisis hit, although the “March Madness” basketball tournaments for men and women were cancelled.