Another 367 New Yorkers die from coronavirus as Cuomo announces plans to reopen state
The governor announced the state will reopen in phases with at least two weeks in between to study the effects of the reopening.
At least 367 New Yorkers died from coronavirus over the last 24 hours, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo who outlined his plans to reopen the state in phases.
At Sunday’s press briefing, Cuomo explained that New York will follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines to hold off on a major reopening until state and regional hospitalization rates decline for at least two weeks.
The governor has been saying that the hospitalization rates and ICU admissions have been decreasing for more than a week, although he called the continuing number of deaths ‘horrific.’
Cuomo said the the first stage of reopening the state will begin with the construction and manufacturing jobs picking back up. Since the outbreak began, more than 24 million American’s have filed jobless claims as the virus and stay-at-home orders put a stranglehold on the national economy.
The governor went on to say that the second phase will focus on essential work forces that are at a lower risk to spread the disease. He explained that at least two weeks will be needed between each phase to study its effects.
Although outlined loose plans to reopen the state, Cuomo has not given a timeline for the phases. However, he said the phases may begin slowly on May 15, which is the end of the lockdown orders that he extended earlier this month.
The governor said the success of New York’s reopening relies on coordination between officials in the tri-state region.
‘You can look at one region, the North Country, Central New York, and say “Well, on our numbers, we are OK,” OK, on your numbers as a region,’ Cuomo said.
‘But, people have cars, people are mobile, people have been cooped up, and whatever you do, you could trigger a reaction in that tri-state area.’
‘And you could see people from across that tri-state area come to your region because you are now that place that I can get a haircut. You are now the place I can walk down Main Street and go in a get an ice cream cone, and I have the kids goo in and shop. So yeah, that’s the balance of all this.’