'I am not kidding about this.' Cuomo orders all non-essential workers to stay home

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers in the state to remain home and issued new guidelines on gatherings and mass transit Friday, as coronavirus cases continued to climb.

News 12 Staff

Mar 20, 2020, 2:43 PM

Updated 1,496 days ago

Share:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers in the state to remain home and issued new guidelines on gatherings and mass transit Friday, as coronavirus cases continued to climb.
The governor said an executive order being issued today will put New York state on "PAUSE," short for "Policies that Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone."
Cuomo said 100% of the non-essential workforce must remain home, up from 75% previously. That excludes essential services including grocery stores, pharmacies, internet service and others.
The closure of non-essential businesses, which now includes barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing parlors, nail salons and hair removal services, goes into effect Saturday at 8 p.m.
The governor said Friday that positive cases in New York state have climbed to at least 7,102, including 5,683 in New York City, 1,091 in Westchester, 754 in Nassau and 459 in Suffolk.
Which workers are considered essential during COVID-19 outbreak? This list breaks it down 

The coronavirus death toll in New York is at 35, state officials said.
Cuomo said elective surgeries and procedures at hospitals will be canceled, likely starting next week, and said multiple sites are under consideration to be used as treatment sites to boost hospital beds. Those sites include CUNY and SUNY schools, including Stony Brook University and SUNY Farmingdale.
The Javits Center in Manhattan is also being considered.
The governor said all non-essential gatherings of any kind are prohibited, and urged people to only take mass transit only when necessary. He said mass transit services will continue to operate in order to transport essential workers.

Cuomo acknowledged that the orders would be disruptive, but said they were necessary in order to help stop the rapid spread of the virus.

"I am not kidding about this," he said, later adding, "I believe these policies will save lives."

Facing potential shortages of essential medical equipment, including masks, gowns and especially ventilators, Gov. Cuomo said the state is asking companies and health facilities to donate any such items they have that are not being used.
"Ventilators are to this war what missiles were to World War II," he said. "We need ventilators. That is the key piece of equipment."
PHOTOS: The impact of coronavirus around the world

undefined

PHOTOS: Scenes of eerie calm during the coronavirus pandemic
undefined
  


More from News 12
1:49
Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

0:56
Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

2:30
Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:22
Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

2:07
Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

0:23
Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

0:42
Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

2:07
​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

1:52
Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

0:36
Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

0:31
Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

0:40
Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

0:57
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

0:28
Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

0:31
Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:41
Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

1:49
Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester