New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday extended the state’s shutdown till May 15 even as the state, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, continued to see a drop in hospitalisations and ICU admissions and recorded the lowest deaths in 10 days.
The New York Pause, which had required schools and nonessential businesses to stay closed through April 29, has now been extended till May 15.
“New York on PAUSE will be extended in coordination with other states to May 15. Non-essential workers must continue to stay home. Social distancing rules remain in place. We must stay the course,” Cuomo said in his daily press briefing on coronavirus.
Cuomo said the state continues to make progress in flattening the infection curve, with drops in hospitalizations, ICU admissions and intubations, which the Governor described as “good news”.
However, the state continues to record high death rates and 606 people died on April 15, which was the lowest figure in 10 days.
“The worst news is 600 people died yesterday from the disease. That is still continuing at a really tragic, tragic rate,” he said, adding that of the total deaths, 577 passed away in hospitals and 29 in nursing homes.
Cuomo said the state has been closely watching the situation in nursing homes, the “ground zero” in the pandemic.
The Governor said the infection rate in the state would have to lower considerably before he could move to ease restrictions, which is why he was extending the shutdown till May 15.
“We have to continue doing what we’re doing. I’d like to see that infection rate get down even more. The New York Pause policies, the close-down policies, will be extended in coordination with other states to May 15,” Cuomo said.
