Governor Cuomo Orders Lockdown, Businesses To Close, Seniors To Remain Indoors, “Will Be Enforced”

The day after California institutes a shelter in place order, New York is following suit with their own version. Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered all “non essential” businesses to shut down, evictions be frozen for 90 days, and all seniors over the age of 70 are to remain indoors at all times. He stresses that “these provisions will be enforce” which, unlike the California order, means that police will be rounding up people who disobey.

NEW: I am announcing Matilda's Law to protect NYers age 70+ and those with compromised immune systems:

-Remain indoors
-Pre-screen visitors by taking temperature
-Visitors should wear masks
-Stay 6 feet away from others

We are laser focused on protecting those most at risk.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 20, 2020

The Hill reports:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday mandated that all nonessential workers across the state stay home to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Cuomo, at a press conference, added the executive order will not apply to those who work in essential services, including people who work in pharmacies and grocery stores.

The governor also released the Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone, or PAUSE, in an effort to “close the valve.” The new, stringent measures are an effort to prevent both low- and high-risk populations in the state from contracting the disease and to limit the amount of person-to-person contact significantly

Among the announced measures, the governor required that those over the age of 70 and those with compromised immune systems remain indoors at all times. People in these groups should only venture out for solitary exercise, Cuomo said, while adding that “all vulnerable persons should wear a mask in the company of others.”

The governor advised as well that people in these groups pre-screen visitors by taking their temperature, while warning them not to “visit households with multiple people.”

Those who are not in the at-risk demographic are mandated to avoid non-essential gatherings of “any size for any reason”, Cuomo said, as he warned against holding parties and other social events. Any concentration of individuals outside their home will be limited to those who are gathering to perform essential work functions.

New York Daily News adds:

The governor said the state is being put “on pause” and said people can only only leave homes for real urgent emergencies as of Sunday.

“This is not life as usual,” Cuomo said. “Deal with it.”

The speech marked a sea change for the governor, who up until Thursday had been downplaying the possibility of “shelter in place” order.

He warned that the state will enforce the orders effective Sunday night.

“These are not helpful hints. I am not kidding about this,” he added.

Making an announcement on the State's response to the #Coronavirus pandemic. WATCH: https://t.co/m4OJce0oBA

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 20, 2020