Governor Cuomo announced a series of new, stricter regulations for New York State today.
This includes that now 100% of the non-essential workforce cannot travel into work. It also includes a stay-at-home policy–he was careful not to say “shelter in place.” He uses the acronym PAUSE:
This means:
- Everyone must remain indoors to the greatest extent to protect physical and mental health.
- Non-essential gatherings of individuals of ANY size for ANY reason are cancelled at this time.
- You may go outside only for essentials like groceries and medicine.
- You can exercise and walk pets, but it must be solitary.
The executive order will go into effect Sunday evening, March 22. No individual civil fines will be given out at this time, but it is a mandatory order (though businesses not complying will be fined or even forced to close).
He’s the second governor in U.S. to make the statewide order, and a historic first for New York State.
Other important additions:
Public transportation will keep running for nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers, and other essential personnel. But he urges everyone else to limit the use of public transportation to only when absolutely necessary.
He also announced a Matilda’s Law (named after his mother) to protect New Yorker age 70+ and those with compromised immune systems. They must:
- Remain indoors
- Pre-screen visitors by taking temperature
- Visitors should wear masks
- Stay 6 feet away from others
He also urges that if you are sick, to NOT walk into a doctor’s office or an ER without calling ahead. Only leave your home if directed to after a telehealth consultation.
The order will also implement a “90-day moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants.”
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