New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during his daily news conference amid the coronavirus outbreak on March 20, 2020. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
Mar 20, 2020
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he was ordering all non-essential workers in the state to stay home as the coronvairus outbreak escalates around the Empire State, which is now considered the U.S. epicenter of the disease, as part of "pause" on life in the state.
"These are not helpful hints," said Cuomo. "This is not if you really want to be a great citizen. These are legal provisions. They will be enforced. There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance. Again, your actions can affect my health. That's where we are."
\u201cGov. Cuomo Announces Stay-At-Home Order: "New York State On PAUSE" https://t.co/R8uEf6Vzcn\u201d— Gothamist (@Gothamist) 1584721500
"When I talk about the most drastic action we can take--this is the most drastic action we can take," Cuomo added.
There will be exemptions for critical services like utilities, food, and other industries, the governor said.
"Look, society has to function," Cuomo said.
As CNNreported, Cuomo stopped short of a statewide "shelter in place" order, but only just:
The Democratic governor insisted he wasn't issuing a "shelter in place" order, which he said referred to active shooter situations, but rather the state was "closing the valve" of everyday life to limit the outbreak. He urged New Yorkers to "remain indoors to the greatest extent."
The governor also ordered a 90-day stay on evictions and foreclosures to ensure people do not lose their homes.
As Cuomo explained Friday, New Yorkers will have to accept a new way of life as the world deals with the coronavirus outbreak.
"This is not life as usual," said Cuomo. "Accept it and realize it and deal with it."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he was ordering all non-essential workers in the state to stay home as the coronvairus outbreak escalates around the Empire State, which is now considered the U.S. epicenter of the disease, as part of "pause" on life in the state.
"These are not helpful hints," said Cuomo. "This is not if you really want to be a great citizen. These are legal provisions. They will be enforced. There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance. Again, your actions can affect my health. That's where we are."
\u201cGov. Cuomo Announces Stay-At-Home Order: "New York State On PAUSE" https://t.co/R8uEf6Vzcn\u201d— Gothamist (@Gothamist) 1584721500
"When I talk about the most drastic action we can take--this is the most drastic action we can take," Cuomo added.
There will be exemptions for critical services like utilities, food, and other industries, the governor said.
"Look, society has to function," Cuomo said.
As CNNreported, Cuomo stopped short of a statewide "shelter in place" order, but only just:
The Democratic governor insisted he wasn't issuing a "shelter in place" order, which he said referred to active shooter situations, but rather the state was "closing the valve" of everyday life to limit the outbreak. He urged New Yorkers to "remain indoors to the greatest extent."
The governor also ordered a 90-day stay on evictions and foreclosures to ensure people do not lose their homes.
As Cuomo explained Friday, New Yorkers will have to accept a new way of life as the world deals with the coronavirus outbreak.
"This is not life as usual," said Cuomo. "Accept it and realize it and deal with it."
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he was ordering all non-essential workers in the state to stay home as the coronvairus outbreak escalates around the Empire State, which is now considered the U.S. epicenter of the disease, as part of "pause" on life in the state.
"These are not helpful hints," said Cuomo. "This is not if you really want to be a great citizen. These are legal provisions. They will be enforced. There will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any business that is not in compliance. Again, your actions can affect my health. That's where we are."
\u201cGov. Cuomo Announces Stay-At-Home Order: "New York State On PAUSE" https://t.co/R8uEf6Vzcn\u201d— Gothamist (@Gothamist) 1584721500
"When I talk about the most drastic action we can take--this is the most drastic action we can take," Cuomo added.
There will be exemptions for critical services like utilities, food, and other industries, the governor said.
"Look, society has to function," Cuomo said.
As CNNreported, Cuomo stopped short of a statewide "shelter in place" order, but only just:
The Democratic governor insisted he wasn't issuing a "shelter in place" order, which he said referred to active shooter situations, but rather the state was "closing the valve" of everyday life to limit the outbreak. He urged New Yorkers to "remain indoors to the greatest extent."
The governor also ordered a 90-day stay on evictions and foreclosures to ensure people do not lose their homes.
As Cuomo explained Friday, New Yorkers will have to accept a new way of life as the world deals with the coronavirus outbreak.
"This is not life as usual," said Cuomo. "Accept it and realize it and deal with it."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.