Cuomo Threatens To Close Restaurants, Bars If Violations Persist

LONG ISLAND, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo had a stern warning for New Yorkers Monday morning: Keep up the social distancing violations and bars and restaurants could soon be closed again.

If the violations — including crowds of people seen at bars at restaurants drinking without masks over the weekend — persist, Cuomo said: "We are going to have to roll back the opening plan and close bars and restaurants."

Cuomo, who was set to head to Savannah, Georgia, to share advice on navigating the coronavirus crisis, spoke at a press briefing and said while the current 716 people hospitalized and eight reported deaths due to COVID-19 was the lowest New York has seen since March, with eight lives lost statewide, the "good news" across the region could come screeching to a halt without compliance.

"We have to protect the progress that we have made," he said. New York is facing two threats: The first, he said, is the number of large gatherings at restaurants and bars — with some as high as 700 people drinking outside without masks — especially in downstate areas. The second threat is the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the South and West.

"It is a problem, primarily with young people," Cuomo said, adding most social distancing violations have occurred in New York City.

The violations, he said, have also been reported at bars and restaurants in places on Long Island and upstate.

And, he said, it's not enough to just have the police show up; they have to actively disperse the crowds.

"We know enough about the virus to know that if you have congregations of people, you are going to spread the virus. What they are doing is reckless, and it has to stop," Cuomo said. "I"m telling you in plain New York-speak, it's stupid, what you are doing. Don't be stupid."

Local governments and police departments have to enforce the mandates "and they are not doing it," Cuomo said. While many restaurant and bar owners are doing the right thing and suffering economically to uphold social distancing protocols, there are "bad ones, exploiting the system and breaking the law," the governor said.

The New York State Liquor Authority has issued dozens of citations but local government has to actively enforce the mandate, he said.

While he knows enforcing the social distancing protocols and cracking down on violations may be unpopular, what's going to be even more unpopular "is having to explain to people why we had to close all the bars and restaurants," he said. "Police have to enforce the law. That is the only line between anarchy and civilization."

On the second threat of coronavirus cases in other parts of the United States, Cuomo said the rate of infection continues to spike nationwide — and New York is not immune from those coming to visit and bringing the virus with them. "An outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere," he said. "If the virus is going up in other states we have a real challenge because those people are coming to New York," some fleeing to New York to escape the virus in their own states.

And, while there is a new quarantine program at airports — travelers to New York from other states have to fill out a State Department of Health traveler form or face a $2,000 fine —New York does not conduct border control. Many are driving in or taking trains or buses, making it "virtually impossible" to check those individuals. "It's a very real threat," Cuomo said.

He also said the federal government is "still in denial about this virus. The virus does not respond to politics. It is the science."

When asked if he would quarantine upon returning from Savannah, Cuomo said he would not but would take a test, as the law does not indicate a quarantine is necessary if someone is just passing through an area for less than 24 hours.