Currents News Staff
Governor Andrew Cuomo wants you to stay home.
Cuomo is calling it the most drastic action that can be taken – mandating 100% of New York’s workforce, except for essential services, work from home to try to stop the spread of the virus.
“I know that we’re going to put people out of work with what I did. I want to make sure that I don’t put them out of their house,” Cuomo said March 20.
Governor Cuomo says this step is necessary to protect New Yorkers. Starting Sunday night all workers in non-essential businesses across the state will be required to stay home in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Cuomo insisted he wasn’t issuing a “shelter in place” order, which he said referred to active shooter situations. Rather, he says, the state is “closing the valve” of everyday life to limit the outbreak.
“We reduced it to 50% of the workforce. We then reduced it to 75% of the workforce must stay home, and today we’re bringing it to 100% of the workforce must stay home,” he continued.
It’s similar to what California is doing. That state is on lockdown after the mayors of both San Francisco and Los Angeles ordered residents to stay home to slow the spread, giving medical personnel more time to prepare.
“If we can slow the spread, we can buy days. And when we buy those days that means that we can get ventilators and we can get beds and kits and masks and tests and this will save lives,” said Los Angeles Mayor Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Cuomo says medical supplies are a major issue, so he’s got an incentive for businesses – saying the state will pay a premium for masks, gloves and gowns.
“If you can make them, we will give you funding to do it. And we will give you funding to get the right equipment, to get the personnel, etc,” Cuomo said.