New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio updated his city’s guidance on Friday that would enforce a stay-at-home order by imposing penalties and fines on any violators.
The latest COVID-19 guidance comes hours after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statewide “stay at home” order. As of 6 p.m. Friday, there were 5,683 positive cases of COVID-19 and 43 fatalities across New York City.
According to the mayor’s office, beginning Sunday at 8 p.m., all nonessential businesses in New York City must be closed. Businesses that provide necessary functions will be allowed to operate. These include grocery stores, pharmacies, internet providers, food delivery, mass transit, banks, and financial institutions.
These businesses will be required to establish social distancing rules in their facilities. The guidance urges the practice of social distancing, which it defines as keeping a distance of 6 feet or more between people.
“If you had — think of a very, very crowded Prospect Park: The goal is not to kick people out. The goal is to get people to create some distance of some space from each other. There’s already officers who patrol in Prospect Park. They’ll go and say that people getting too close together spread out,” de Blasio told reporters Friday night.
The mayor’s office also made clear the city will enforce rules for “nonvulnerable people” with fines and mandatory closures, one of which is nonessential gatherings. Outdoor recreational activities, the guidance says, involving physical contact, such as basketball, is discouraged, as is the use of public transportation.
Additionally, the mayor’s office does not want sick people leaving their homes except in instances to seek out medical care.
New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters a “range of available methods” can be used “and ultimately summons and arrest is one of those options, but that’s the last resort.”
Although New York City’s district attorneys are curbing their prosecutions of low-level offenses, Shea insisted this would not affect the police department’s enforcement of the shelter in place order.
“We have no intention of strategically cutting enforcement specifically related to this coronavirus,” he said.
According to the mayor’s office, the city will also enforce “Matilda’s Law.” This will establish several restrictions to New Yorkers over the age of 70 and those who are most at risk of more severe illness.
The guidance declares these people must stay at home and limit outdoor activity to solitary exercise, among other rules and terms.
