NYC Needs 'Full Lockdown' Amid Coronavirus, Public Advocate Says

NEW YORK CITY — Public Advocate Jumaane Williams wants a full lockdown of New York City during the coronavirus outbreak that would ban New Yorkers from leaving their neighborhoods except for essential work.

"We need a mandated lockdown and we needed it yesterday," Williams said in virtual news conference Wednesday. "We know there's a human cost to that wait."

Williams' lockdown would further limit city dwellers' movements, close parks and construction sites, as well as amp up protections for New York jail detainees and homeless population.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has limited movements with a statewide "PAUSE" that allows New Yorkers to leave home only for essential tasks and work.

But Mayor Bill de Blasio has garnered criticism for allowing public parks and playgrounds remain open, even as New York struggles to convince young people they are also vulnerable to the disease.

"Parks should not be open, construction sites should not be open," Williams said. "When you take so long to close the schools or you say you can play in the park, those are mixed messages. "

Dr. Celine Gounder, an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, said further restrictions were merited given New York City's increasing rate of COVID-19 fatalities.

"We're seeing that doubling time in one day," Gounder said. "That is very scary."

As of Wednesday morning, 199 New York City residents had lost their lives to the virus, according to the Mayor's office. The tally of deaths was 99 on March 23.

New York health experts estimate between 40 and 80 percent of New York City's 9 million residents will contract COVID-19 and, at the current mortality rate, between 18,000 and 216,000 could die, according to Williams.

"We have to lock down now," Williams said. "Every hour is critical."

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