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Cuomo Orders Tighter Restrictions in New York: Live Updates Cuomo Orders Tighter Restrictions in New York: Live Updates
(about 1 hour later)
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo told New Yorkers to stay indoors as much as possible and ordered all nonessential businesses to keep all their workers home in a wide-ranging executive order, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state raced toward 8,000.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo told New Yorkers to stay indoors as much as possible and ordered all nonessential businesses to keep all their workers home in a wide-ranging executive order, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state jumped to over 7,000. The state, with 6 percent of the nation’s population, now accounts for around half of all cases in the country.
Here are the highlights of his executive order, which takes effect Sunday: Here are the highlights of Mr. Cuomo’s executive order, which takes effect Sunday at 8 p.m.:
Healthy people under 70 years old should limit their outside activity to getting groceries and medicine, but are allowed to exercise and walk outside, as long as they stay six feet away from others. Healthy people under 70 should limit their outside activity to getting groceries and medicine, but are allowed to exercise and walk outside, as long as they stay six feet away from others.
Mass transit will keep operating but people should not use it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Roads will stay open. Mass transit will keep operating, but people should not use it unless it is absolutely necessary. Roads will stay open.
Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason are banned. Nonessential gatherings of any size for any reason are banned.
Stronger restrictions for people 70 years of age and older, people with compromised immune systems and people with underlying illnesses include wearing masks when in the company of others not visiting households with multiple people.Stronger restrictions for people 70 years of age and older, people with compromised immune systems and people with underlying illnesses include wearing masks when in the company of others not visiting households with multiple people.
Businesses considered nonessential must keep all of their workforce at home, which effectively means that if the business depends on a physical location, it must close. Businesses considered nonessential must keep all of their workers at home.
Essential businesses that can remain open include: grocers and restaurants, health care providers, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, banks, hardware stores, laundromats and cleaners, child-care providers, auto repair, utilities, warehouses and distributors, plumbers and other skilled contractors, animal-care providers, transportation providers, construction companies and many kinds of manufacturers.Essential businesses that can remain open include: grocers and restaurants, health care providers, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, banks, hardware stores, laundromats and cleaners, child-care providers, auto repair, utilities, warehouses and distributors, plumbers and other skilled contractors, animal-care providers, transportation providers, construction companies and many kinds of manufacturers.
Any businesses violating the order would be fined and forced to close. The state does not plan to fine individuals who violated the regulations, Mr. Cuomo said.Any businesses violating the order would be fined and forced to close. The state does not plan to fine individuals who violated the regulations, Mr. Cuomo said.
“These provisions will be enforced,” the governor said at a briefing in Albany. “These are not helpful hints.” They will take effect Sunday night. “These provisions will be enforced,” the governor said at a briefing in Albany. “These are not helpful hints.”
Mr. Cuomo said the state would not shut down public transportation, and he did not suggest roads would be closed. Another regulation issued by the governor orders all personal-care businesses like hair and nail salons and tattoo parlors to close on Saturday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City has pushed for days for a “shelter in place” order and the governor has repeatedly dismissed the idea, saying he would not quarantine New Yorkers in their homes.Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City has pushed for days for a “shelter in place” order and the governor has repeatedly dismissed the idea, saying he would not quarantine New Yorkers in their homes.
On Friday, Mr. Cuomo chafed at calling this new order a “shelter in place” order, saying that term evoked active shooter situations and nuclear war. On Friday, Mr. Cuomo chafed at calling this new order a “shelter in place” order, saying that term evoked active shooter situations and nuclear war. “Words matter,” he said.
“Words matter,” he said. Early Friday afternoon, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state stood at 7,845, according to the most recent data from the city and state. There were 5,151 confirmed cases in the city, Mayor de Blasio said.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases stood at 7,102 on Friday morning, 4,408 of them in New York City, Mr. Cuomo said. Of those city cases, 1,518 were in Brooklyn, 1,406 in Queens, 1,314 in Manhattan, 667 in the Bronx, and 242 in Staten Island.
New York State, with only 6 percent of the country’s population, accounts for around half of the nationwide total of confirmed cases.
New York performed 10,000 tests overnight, bringing the total number of people tested in the state to 32,427. About 1,250 people are hospitalized, an 18 percent hospitalization rate, the governor said.New York performed 10,000 tests overnight, bringing the total number of people tested in the state to 32,427. About 1,250 people are hospitalized, an 18 percent hospitalization rate, the governor said.
Mr. Cuomo said New York was now testing more people per capita than China or South Korea.Mr. Cuomo said New York was now testing more people per capita than China or South Korea.
As testing has ramped up rapidly in the state and the virus spreads, the numbers of confirmed cases has grown at a breathtaking pace: When the week began, there were only about 700 cases in the state. Now there are about 10 times that.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said that New York City’s need for medical supplies, including face masks, gloves and ventilators, was growing more urgent, and he criticized President Trump for not activating the military to ensure necessary supplies be delivered to places fighting the outbreak. In New Jersey, the governor’s office said on Thursday that another 318 people had tested positive, bringing the state’s total to 742. Nine people had died in New Jersey, up from five on Wednesday. Three of the nine deaths were associated with long-term health care facilities, which have been closed to visitors, the state’s health commissioner said.
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said on Thursday that the state had recorded its third coronavirus-related death and had added 63 confirmed virus cases since Wednesday, bringing its total to 159.
Mar. Blasio said that New York City’s need for medical supplies, including face masks, gloves and ventilators, was growing more urgent, and he criticized President Trump for not activating the military to ensure necessary supplies be delivered to places fighting the outbreak.
“He should get the hell out of the way and let the military do its job,” the mayor said.“He should get the hell out of the way and let the military do its job,” the mayor said.
On WNYC radio, Mr. de Blasio continued his criticism: “We’re talking about, ironically, a New Yorker in the White House who is betraying New York City,” he told Brian Lehrer.On WNYC radio, Mr. de Blasio continued his criticism: “We’re talking about, ironically, a New Yorker in the White House who is betraying New York City,” he told Brian Lehrer.
“We’re talking about a president who is basically doing what Herbert Hoover did at the beginning of the Depression and minimizing the nature and refusing to use available federal action, and people are going to die, and they shouldn’t, they don’t have to, if we could get the support that we’re asking for.”“We’re talking about a president who is basically doing what Herbert Hoover did at the beginning of the Depression and minimizing the nature and refusing to use available federal action, and people are going to die, and they shouldn’t, they don’t have to, if we could get the support that we’re asking for.”
The medical needs include three million N95 masks, 50 million surgical masks and 15,000 ventilators. Health care workers will need another 45 million of each of the following: surgical gowns, coveralls, gloves, regular face masks and face shields, the mayor said.The medical needs include three million N95 masks, 50 million surgical masks and 15,000 ventilators. Health care workers will need another 45 million of each of the following: surgical gowns, coveralls, gloves, regular face masks and face shields, the mayor said.
Mr. de Blasio said on CNN Friday morning that the Javits Center and other large facilities like hotels might be used in the response to the coronavirus, possibly as hospital annexes.Mr. de Blasio said on CNN Friday morning that the Javits Center and other large facilities like hotels might be used in the response to the coronavirus, possibly as hospital annexes.
Starting on Saturday, all barber shops, hair and nail salons, tattoo or piercing parlors and other personal care businesses in New York State must close, Governor Cuomo announced on Friday. Early Friday, about 100 people lined up for coronavirus tests outside the emergency room at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, one of several public hospitals that the Health Department said on Thursday would begin testing people for the virus by appointment only.
Mr. Cuomo’s order followed a similar one by Gov. Philip D. Murphy on New Jersey, which took effect Thursday night. Connecticut and Pennsylvania will also be enacting similar measures. The other public hospitals offering tests as of Friday included Bellevue, Harlem, Metropolitan, Kings County, Lincoln, Woodhull and Queens, officials said. Test centers are expected to open at Coney Island and Jacobi hospitals early next week. The city also plans to open several drive-through test sites at its hospitals.
The closings in New York begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. Officials said they expected to serve about 150 people a day at each of the test centers, which were created to ensure that New Yorkers with moderate to severe symptoms had access to tests without going to emergency rooms.
The new restrictions widen the limits placed on businesses in an effort to contain the coronavirus. So far, Mr. Cuomo and his counterparts have ordered movie theaters, gyms and casinos to close and limited restaurants and bars to delivery and takeout service only. Those who have mild symptoms, are not over 50 or do not have underlying health conditions should continue to stay home, practice social distancing and consult their health care providers if their symptoms do not subside in three to four days.
All the measures are an attempt to enforce distance between people, a tried and true way to slow pandemics. Officials and health experts have encouraged people to maintain a gap of at least six feet between each other.
The personal care businesses were of particular concern because the services they offer are nearly impossible to provide without the kind of prolonged, close contact that allows viruses to spread. Most barbers do not own six-foot scissors; most tattoo shops are not supplied with six-foot needles.
Also, all 92 branches of the New York Public Library — located in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island — will be closed “until further notice” a spokeswoman for the organization said today. Initially the organization had said its branches would close for “at least” two weeks.
The air traffic control tower at Kennedy International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country, was temporarily closed after a worker there tested positive for the coronavirus, the Federal Aviation Agency said in a statement.The air traffic control tower at Kennedy International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country, was temporarily closed after a worker there tested positive for the coronavirus, the Federal Aviation Agency said in a statement.
The airport remained open on Friday, but the F.A.A. closed the tower as a precaution and called a professional cleaning company to sanitize the facility, it said.The airport remained open on Friday, but the F.A.A. closed the tower as a precaution and called a professional cleaning company to sanitize the facility, it said.
Air traffic controllers were operating from an alternate location at the airport, as part of a contingency plan that the agency has had in place since well before the outbreak began.Air traffic controllers were operating from an alternate location at the airport, as part of a contingency plan that the agency has had in place since well before the outbreak began.
The worker, a technician, did not enter the part of the tower where air traffic controllers work, the agency said. He was last at the facility on Monday, when he was only in the building for “a brief visit.”The worker, a technician, did not enter the part of the tower where air traffic controllers work, the agency said. He was last at the facility on Monday, when he was only in the building for “a brief visit.”
Earlier this week, a tower at the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was temporarily closed after an air traffic controller tested positive for the virus.Earlier this week, a tower at the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport was temporarily closed after an air traffic controller tested positive for the virus.
Chen Wei’s wife begged him to stop making restaurant deliveries because she feared he might contract the coronavirus from a customer.Chen Wei’s wife begged him to stop making restaurant deliveries because she feared he might contract the coronavirus from a customer.
Lee Mengba, another delivery worker, wondered if the hand that reached out for the bag of medication from behind an apartment door on a recent run belonged to a quarantined patient.Lee Mengba, another delivery worker, wondered if the hand that reached out for the bag of medication from behind an apartment door on a recent run belonged to a quarantined patient.
Adolfo Garcia tries to deliver pizza “in four seconds,” sometimes leaving boxes near the elevator on the first floor of apartment buildings for customers to grab. He disinfects his hands after each delivery — so often that his skin is dry and cracked.Adolfo Garcia tries to deliver pizza “in four seconds,” sometimes leaving boxes near the elevator on the first floor of apartment buildings for customers to grab. He disinfects his hands after each delivery — so often that his skin is dry and cracked.
As New Yorkers barricade themselves in their homes to practice “social distancing,” delivery workers, typically an overlooked group, have now taken on outsize significance and are on the front lines of the outbreak.As New Yorkers barricade themselves in their homes to practice “social distancing,” delivery workers, typically an overlooked group, have now taken on outsize significance and are on the front lines of the outbreak.
A few days ago, New York State was testing only a few hundred people a day for the coronavirus. From Wednesday night to Thursday morning, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said, the state processed the tests of 7,584 people.
The increase came as dozens of private laboratories in the state received authorization to test for the virus. Until recently, two government-run labs had shouldered most of New York’s testing.
The huge increase in testing capacity and the quickening spread of the virus yielded sobering news: As of Thursday afternoon, there were at least 5,298 cases statewide, up from about 3,000 cases on Wednesday. More than 750 people were hospitalized. At least 29 people had died of the virus in New York State.
The 5,298 cases in New York State are by far the most of any state in the country and make up more than 40 percent of the nationwide total of over 12,000 tallied by The New York Times. New York State has only 6 percent of the country’s population.
When the week began, New York State had tallied fewer than 700 cases. The number has shot up nearly 700 percent since then.
The increase in testing was helped by the addition of three drive-through test centers. The first opened last Friday in New Rochelle, the state’s original virus hot spot. A second opened on Tuesday at Jones Beach State Park on Long Island, and a third opened on Staten Island on Thursday.
In New Jersey, the governor’s office said on Thursday that another 318 people had tested positive, bringing the state’s total to 742. Nine people had died in New Jersey, up from five on Wednesday. Three of the nine deaths were associated with long-term health care facilities, which have been closed to visitors, the state’s health commissioner said.
In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said on Thursday that the state had recorded its third coronavirus-related death and had added 63 confirmed virus cases since Wednesday, bringing its total to 159.
Jonah Engel Bromwich, Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, Matthew Haag, Jeffery E. Mays, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Jeffrey E. Singer and Liam Stack contributed reporting.
Jonah Engel Bromwich, Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Michael Gold, J. David Goodman, Matthew Haag, Jeffery E. Mays, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Azi Paybarah, Ed Shanahan, Jeffrey E. Singer and Liam Stack contributed reporting.