New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned Gov. Andrew Cuomo over some inconsistencies in his coronavirus policies.
Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat who worked in a New York City bar before being elected to Congress, demanded to know why Cuomo announced that schools in the state would be reopening for in-person instruction but restaurants and bars are still not allowed to provide indoor service to customers.
“If it’s not safe enough for indoor dining, what makes it safe enough for indoor schooling?” Ocasio-Cortez asked. “And restaurants actually have soap in the bathrooms.”
If it’s not safe enough for indoor dining, what makes it safe enough for indoor schooling?
(…and restaurants actually have soap in the bathrooms)
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 8, 2020
Cuomo announced on Friday that schools in the state would be fully reopened this fall.
“Every region is well below our COVID infection limit; therefore, all school districts are authorized to open,” he said, later adding, “If the infection rate spikes, the guidance will change accordingly.”
This guidance stood in contrast to the guidance that was recently given to New York City restaurant owners. Cuomo’s senior adviser Rich Azzopardi told the New York Post that the state needs more data before it can allow restaurants or bars to reopen for indoor service.
“We are looking to see what’s happening in other states. We are looking at our own numbers and will see what’s going on in other states before we make any other decisions on other areas that have not been reopened yet,” Azzopardi said.
Cuomo has stripped bars of their liquor licenses and threatened fines of up to $10,000 to restaurants that violate his social distancing policies.
