ALBANY – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday that in tandem with the states of New Jersey and Connecticut, a number of new policies are being put in place in the effort to contain the coronavirus.
Among the new guidelines are no gatherings of over 50 people will be permitted, and all casinos, gymnasiums, and theaters are closed.
Bars, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries will only be allowed to fill take-out orders. Cuomo said during his conference that the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) would have the revised guidelines available Monday afternoon before 5:00 PM. According to the governor, the SLA was going to allow bars and restaurants the opportunity to sell alcoholic beverages for takeout. As of 6:00 PM on Monday, the SLA had failed to publish the new, temporary guidelines.
Cuomo also ordered all local governments to reduce their workforce by at least 50 percent with those affected employees working from home and he asked non-essential private businesses to do the same, if possible.
Cuomo is also concerned that as the virus peaks in terms of numbers, the hospital system in the state will not be able to accommodate the influx of patients so he urged the US Army Corps of Engineers to work with the states to build temporary backup medical facilities.
If Washington doesn’t do that, Cuomo will put his plan into action. “We are going to organize the National Guard, work with the building unions, and work with private developers to find existing facilities that could most easily be adapted to medical facilities, meaning dormitories, meaning former nursing homes; facilities that have that basic configuration that can be retrofitted,” he said.
Cuomo also said the state will be establishing a mobile COVID-19 testing site in Rockland County. Later in the day, Orange County officials said it will be located at the Anthony Wayne Recreation area just south of the county line.
The governor also wants all police and EMS personnel in the state to be equipped with surgical masks.
