New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ramped up quarantine measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
During a news conference Friday morning, Cuomo outlined two new measures demanding the closure of all nonessential businesses and a mandate for all citizens to stay indoors.
“This is the most drastic action we can take,” Cuomo said. “We need everyone to be safe, otherwise no one can be safe.”
New York state has been one of the hardest-hit places in the United States, with more than 5,000 infected patients and 38 dead as of Friday.
“We’re going to put out an executive order today: New York state on pause,” Cuomo said. “Policies that assure uniform safety for everyone. Uniform safety for everyone. Why? Because what I do will affect you, and what you do will affect me.”
Cuomo said the policy was informed by what has worked in other areas of the world where the illness has consumed hospitals. On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered citizens to “stay at home” and warned the virus could infect more than half of his state’s population.
“On the businesses, on the valve, we reduced it to 50% of the workforce. We then reduced it to 75% of the workforce must stay home. And, today we are bringing it to 100% of the workforce must stay home,” Cuomo said.
