New Executive Order
Governor Cuomo has issued Executive Order 202.18. This latest Order primarily extends previous directives, including extending the “New York State on PAUSE” business restrictions and social protocols through May 15, and directing all schools statewide to remain closed through May 15. Furthermore, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and adult care facilities are now required to notify family members or next of kin if any resident tests positive for COVID-19, or if any resident suffers a COVID-19 related death, within 24 hours of such positive test result or death.
Getting Back to Work
The Governor again touted a “Blueprint to Un-PAUSE New York” with four steps:
- Do No Harm – continue controlling the rate of infection
- Strengthening the Healthcare System – ensure that anyone who needs medical attention gets it, and build out the strategic stockpile of PPE and other medical equipment
- Testing and Contact Tracing – call on the federal government to work with states to test on a massive scale, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 and reopen the economy and society
- Phased Return to “New Normal” – evaluate industries and strategically phase-in the reopening of our economy
Increasing Testing and Stabilizing State Finances
The Governor will be issuing an Executive Order directing all public and private labs in the State to coordinate with the Department of Health to ensure prioritizing of diagnostic testing. Despite this, the Governor continuously argues that requisite testing levels cannot be achieved without federal assistance. The Governor also is lobbying for federal support to stabilize states’ finances and basic operations.
New York City
Mayor de Blasio today called on the federal government to provide more direct funding to New York City to help fill the gap of $7.5 billion in projected lost revenue. He also announced that he plans to keep all City beaches closed this summer, and that all nonessential permitted events will officially be canceled through the month of May, including the Brooklyn half-marathon, parades, concerts, rallies and other large gatherings. Essential permitted locations, including medical sites, hygiene stations and farmers markets/meal distribution locations, will remain open. Discussions continue related to cancelling nonessential events in June as well.
The City Council today said it will introduce legislation next week to force Mayor de Blasio to open streets to pedestrians and cyclists after a pilot program to create open space in each borough was cancelled due to the cost of enforcing social distancing rules
COVID-19 Numbers
The Governor is cautiously optimistic that we are on the far side of the COVID-19 plateau, with virtually all single-day statistics and three-day averages being either flat or decreased. The number of deaths in the State has increased 630 since yesterday to 12,822.
