New York mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded for help from the federal government and from private citizens to fight the coronavirus outbreak as the US Federal Reserve launched an extraordinary array of initiatives to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact.

“I want to appeal to everyone in the House and Senate, you have got to help cities, towns, countries, states, public hospitals, private hospitals. You've got to get all of them direct relief,” de Blasio told CNN on Monday.

The mayor of the most populous US city broadened his appeal for ventilators and medical equipment to private citizens.

“Anyone out there who can help us get these supplies, we have only days to get them in place. That is the reality,” he said.

About 1,800 patients were hospitalised with Covid-19 in New York City, with about 450 of those in intensive care units.