Virus 'epicenter' NYC braces for critical phase

New Yorkers hunkered down on Sunday as the city entered a critical phase in the coronavirus crisis — a period authority warned would bring soaring death tolls and even more challenges for an overburdened health care system.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio reiterated his call for a federal enlistment of health workers, citing an anticipated huge growth in the number of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks.

"We have bought a few more days here. We believe now we can get to Tuesday or Wednesday with the supplies we have," he said during a Sunday briefing.

But he warned the number of intubated patients will likely continue to climb into the week.

"We believe we will hit that 5,000 mark in truth on Tuesday or Wednesday," he said. "I would love it if it proved that our projections were too cautious. That would be a very good thing,"

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority survive.

But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can be more severe, even causing pneumonia or death.