Thursday, October 08, 2020
Remember too, that there are lives at stake. We went through hell in March and April — I remember the horrors of that period all too well — and we will not go back. We are prepared to take all necessary steps to stop the spread and save lives.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo
Today, 4:23 PM
To: Paul Mendlowitz
October 7, 2020.
Dear Paul,
We've
seen time and time again throughout this pandemic that mass gatherings
can spread this virus and result in clusters which can in turn become
community outbreaks. While New York's numbers remain low across the most
of the state, the positivity rate in "hot spot" ZIP codes was 5.1
percent yesterday — five times the rate in the rest of the state. We are
moving quickly to stop further spread. Yesterday, we announced
restrictions that will be enforced in these hot spot ZIP codes for a
minimum of 14-days.
We
know that some of these restrictions will be unpopular and difficult
for many people. Still, these actions are far less restrictive than
implementing a full shutdown, as some foreign countries and states have
had to do following a resurgence of the virus.
Remember too, that there
are lives at stake. We went through hell in March and April — I remember
the horrors of that period all too well — and we will not go back. We
are prepared to take all necessary steps to stop the spread and save
lives.
Photo
of the Day: I Love NY's Fall Foliage Report shows that leaves are
starting to change in New York City and Long Island, while the most of
the rest of the state is near, at, or past peak.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. See the Cluster Action Initiative maps. Yesterday, we announced the implementation of Red, Orange and/or Yellow Zones in and around clusters in Broome County, Brooklyn, Orange County, Queens/Far Rockaway, Upper Queens and Rockland County. Click each county name to see the map for that cluster.
In Red Zones,
mass gatherings are prohibited, only essential businesses are open,
schools are remote-only and houses of worship are limited to 25 percent
capacity (up to 10 people maximum). In Orange Zones, mass
gatherings are limited to ten people (indoor and outdoor), high-risk
non-essential businesses are closed, schools are remote-only and houses
of worship are at 33 percent capacity (up to 25 people maximum). In Yellow Zones,
mass gatherings are limited to 25 people (indoor and outdoor), schools
are open with increased testing, businesses are open and houses of
worship are limited to 50 percent capacity. Read more here.
2. We are carefully watching New York's total COVID hospitalizations. Yesterday,
there were 748 total hospitalizations. Of the 108,246 tests reported
yesterday, 1,360, or 1.25 percent, were positive. Sadly, we lost eight
New Yorkers to the virus.
Ever Upward,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo