By: Darryl Jackson-Jones
Governor Andrew Cuomo wants space – between New Yorkers – and is threatening those in Manhattan and the Hamptons with a potential new lockdown if they don’t get with the program.
“We’re not going to go back to that dark place because local governments didn’t do their job” and citizens ignore proper precautions during the pandemic, Cuomo said. “Manhattan and the Hamptons are the leading areas in the state with violations.”
Indeed, he told the media that his administration has received in the neighborhood of 25,000 complaints about health-safety violations, which he called “alarming.”
On Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio fired back at Cuomo’s threat to shut down Manhattan again if the city didn’t enforce social-distancing better — saying through a rep that “imprisoning people” isn’t the answer.
“We must balance safety with people’s need to reopen their businesses,” a City Hall spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
“We had social distancing ambassadors out all weekend distributing masks and encouraging people to disperse after making their purchases,” the City Hall rep added. “These businesses are allowed to be open per the governor’s guidelines and we don’t believe imprisoning people or taking away their livelihood is the answer.”
“These are not hard-to-spot violations. People send videos of these violations,” Cuomo said. And yet just a couple of days later, no fewer than an estimated 200 partiers were caught on video standing tightly together, without masks near St. Marks Place in the East Village. “They are rampant, and there’s not enough enforcement,” he said. “I’m not going to allow situations to exist, that we know have a high likelihood of causing an increase in the virus. Local governments, do your job.” If they fail to do so, he added, “yes, there is a very real possibility that we would roll back the reopening of those areas.”
Cuomo related that he had contacted bars and restaurants himself after finding photographic evidence of their failure to follow guidelines. He says he warned them, “
You’re playing with your [liquor] license.”
“New York City is currently in Phase One of the state’s four-stage reopening plan, meaning curbside retail is allowed, as well as the restart of general construction and manufacturing,” the New York Post reported. “Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he expects the city to enter Phase Two hopefully by early July, which would permit such things as outdoor seated dining at restaurants.”
Phase two was implemented in the Hamptons on Long Island more than a week ago.
The governor’s office has been proactive in telling New Yorkers exactly what steps they must take to protect themselves from infection. For example, his web site related that New Yorkers should:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people; do not shake hands.
Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others.
Wear a face mask or cloth face covering that covers your nose and mouth when in public and/or when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.