Coronavirus: Cuomo Orders Non-Essential New Yorkers To Stay Home

NEW YORK, NY — All non-essential workers in New York have been ordered to stay home and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new so-called "PAUSE" provisions for those who are not especially vulnerable to the new coronavirus. He said he would put out an executive order Friday to "put New York on PAUSE," an acronym for policies, assure, uniform, safety and everyone. Businesses that do not provide essential services must close by Sunday night Cuomo said, stressing he was taking measures to the "ultimate step."

"We need everyone to be safe, or else no one will be safe," he said.

Only essential businesses will function — though employees can work from home — and New Yorkers must remain indoors as much as possible. Non-essential gatherings — of any size and for any reason — must be canceled or postponed, Cuomo said. Moreover, any concentration of people outside their home must be limited to workers providing essential services and social distancing should be practiced.

"This is the most drastic measure we can take," Cuomo said Friday in announcing the extraordinary measures.

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New Yorkers will only be allowed to leave home for activities such as grocery shopping, getting medications and solitary exercise, such as running or hiking. Group sports such as basketball will be banned. Those who leave home must maintain distance from other people.

Exempt workers include those in health care, food supply and delivery, pharmacies and utilities. The governor stressed the order is mandatory — not voluntary. It will be monitored and violators could face civil fines.

Cuomo said the measure could last months.

Even more restrictive rules were set for vulnerable populations, referring to seniors over 70, those with compromised immune systems and people with underlying illnesses.

Cuomo said more than 7,100 people have tested positive in the state, about 3,000 of which are new. The increase reflects a significant increase in testing capabilities statewide.

New York has seen 35 deaths.

The state order will cause disruption, unhappiness and cause businesses to close, Cuomo acknowledged.

"This will hurt the economy," he said. "I understand that."

Cuomo also announced he will stop all commercial and residential evictions for at least 90 days.

The grim address comes after Patch confirmed three people in their 90s died at a Suffolk County retirement community in connection with the disease, officially known as COVID-19. A dozen others tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, Nassau County officials announced a fourth death from the disease as the number of confirmed cases grew to 372.

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