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New York City Considering Fines for Public Gatherings: Live Updates N.Y.P.D. Has 500 Coronavirus Cases and 2nd Civilian Death: Live Updates
(about 2 hours later)
As the weather gets warmer, New Yorkers may be itching to hang out together in New York City’s parks. At least 500 New York Police Department employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and more than 4,000 officers — about 11 percent of the uniformed work force — were out sick on Friday, officials said.
But Mayor Bill de Blasio warned at a news conference on Friday that officials would decide this weekend whether to impose a $500 fine on those flouting social-distancing rules during the coronavirus outbreak by gathering in large groups at parks and ignoring police orders to disperse. Of the department employees who tested positive, 442 were uniformed officers and 70 were civilians, officials said. In a force of 36,000 officers, that translates to an infection rate of about one in every 80 officers, or about 1.2 percent.
The vast majority of New Yorkers have been respecting the rules, the mayor said, but officials have observed some violations. Officials also reported the department’s second virus-related death: Giacomina Barr-Brown, a civilian employee and seven-year veteran who worked on patrol and administrative assignments. Ms. Barr-Brown died at her home on Thursday, the department said.
Mr. de Blasio also said that a small number of houses of worship were continuing to hold religious services and that they risked fines or having their buildings permanently closed if the police caught them in congregations this weekend. Earlier this week, Dennis Dickson, a custodian who worked at Police Headquarters, died from complications of the virus.
Separately, Mr. de Blasio said that the city had only enough medical supplies and personnel to last until April 5, and he reiterated his plea for additional federal resources, including military doctors. The Police Department has been stepping up its role in enforcing restrictions on large crowds in the city, visiting stores, restaurants and bars to make sure they adhere to limits on gatherings. Officers patrolled the parks on Friday as warm, sunny weather brought more people into public spaces throughout the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday that the police could begin issuing fines to those who disobey social-distancing rules.
“There is still time to prepare and get ahead of that date,” he said.
The mayor also said he was working with state officials to freeze rents this year for 2.3 million tenants in rent-stabilized apartments to provide them a measure of economic relief.
Though New York City public schools are closed, 9-year-old Trayvon Lee spent his Tuesday inside a school building on West 93rd Street in Manhattan.Though New York City public schools are closed, 9-year-old Trayvon Lee spent his Tuesday inside a school building on West 93rd Street in Manhattan.
“We are washing our hands all the time,” Trayvon said as his mother picked him up. “I just washed my hands before I left.”“We are washing our hands all the time,” Trayvon said as his mother picked him up. “I just washed my hands before I left.”
He attended one of New York City’s 93 new “regional enrichment centers” in schools across the city — part of a new program designed to provide free child care for those on the front lines of the pandemic. This week, thousands of public school students whose parents work in public health jobs returned to classrooms inside the centers.He attended one of New York City’s 93 new “regional enrichment centers” in schools across the city — part of a new program designed to provide free child care for those on the front lines of the pandemic. This week, thousands of public school students whose parents work in public health jobs returned to classrooms inside the centers.
The program, which opened on Monday and has so far enrolled roughly 8,000 children, provides a space where students can do class work at spaced-apart desks, eat three hot meals a day and learn how to protect themselves from the virus.The program, which opened on Monday and has so far enrolled roughly 8,000 children, provides a space where students can do class work at spaced-apart desks, eat three hot meals a day and learn how to protect themselves from the virus.
The enrichment centers are an attempt to compensate for some of what has been lost while the schools are shuttered — recreation, meals, and sometimes laundry. It is a major social experiment for the city.The enrichment centers are an attempt to compensate for some of what has been lost while the schools are shuttered — recreation, meals, and sometimes laundry. It is a major social experiment for the city.
“We’ve never done something like this before,” said Miranda Barbot, a spokeswoman for the New York City Department of Education. “We’ve made these centers available to thousands of families who need them, and are serving all of the ones who’ve said that they do.”“We’ve never done something like this before,” said Miranda Barbot, a spokeswoman for the New York City Department of Education. “We’ve made these centers available to thousands of families who need them, and are serving all of the ones who’ve said that they do.”
Two weeks ago, an unexpected cluster of coronavirus cases in New Rochelle, N.Y., seemed to be an unnerving sign that an outbreak that had devastated China and Italy was taking hold in the New York region and could spread rapidly.Two weeks ago, an unexpected cluster of coronavirus cases in New Rochelle, N.Y., seemed to be an unnerving sign that an outbreak that had devastated China and Italy was taking hold in the New York region and could spread rapidly.
The state took drastic measures that stirred a backlash, including creating a containment zone. But now, the latest data indicates that the measures may be starting to work.The state took drastic measures that stirred a backlash, including creating a containment zone. But now, the latest data indicates that the measures may be starting to work.
The outbreak, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo once said was advancing “unabated” in New Rochelle, has appeared to slow: Over the last four days, only 38 new cases were reported to Westchester County.The outbreak, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo once said was advancing “unabated” in New Rochelle, has appeared to slow: Over the last four days, only 38 new cases were reported to Westchester County.
“Everybody talks about flattening the curve, and I think that’s exactly what we were able to do in New Rochelle,” said Dr. Sherlita Amler, the Westchester health commissioner. “We know we can’t stop every single case, but our goal was to reduce the number of cases, and I do think the measures were successful in doing that.”“Everybody talks about flattening the curve, and I think that’s exactly what we were able to do in New Rochelle,” said Dr. Sherlita Amler, the Westchester health commissioner. “We know we can’t stop every single case, but our goal was to reduce the number of cases, and I do think the measures were successful in doing that.”
It was not the joyous homecoming Fatehi Darhan had dreamed about while he lay alone for two weeks in a hospital room in Queens, fighting the coronavirus. He came close to death.It was not the joyous homecoming Fatehi Darhan had dreamed about while he lay alone for two weeks in a hospital room in Queens, fighting the coronavirus. He came close to death.
When he entered his small apartment in the Far Rockaway section of the borough and saw his three young children, their eyes longing for a fatherly hug, he fought every instinct to wrap his arms around them.When he entered his small apartment in the Far Rockaway section of the borough and saw his three young children, their eyes longing for a fatherly hug, he fought every instinct to wrap his arms around them.
“I froze,” Mr. Darhan, 34, said. “I wanted to hug them, but it did not feel safe. I don’t know when I would feel safe hugging them again.”“I froze,” Mr. Darhan, 34, said. “I wanted to hug them, but it did not feel safe. I don’t know when I would feel safe hugging them again.”
Mr. Darhan’s misgivings underscore the difficulties of returning to normal life after surviving a disease that has changed almost every aspect of living in New York City.Mr. Darhan’s misgivings underscore the difficulties of returning to normal life after surviving a disease that has changed almost every aspect of living in New York City.
Reporting was contributed by Nicole Hong, Sarah Maslin Nir, Jeffery C. Mays, Sharon Otterman, Edgar Sandoval, Nate Schweber and Liam Stack.Reporting was contributed by Nicole Hong, Sarah Maslin Nir, Jeffery C. Mays, Sharon Otterman, Edgar Sandoval, Nate Schweber and Liam Stack.