Cuomo: New York’s Coronavirus Crackdown Saved ‘Thousands’ Of Lives

TOPLINE

During a Tuesday press conference, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers beat the odds and flattened the coronavirus curve enough to warrant a gradual reopening of some parts of the state this week—but stressed the importance of continuing to monitor data and pulling back quickly if infections increase again.

KEY FACTS

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“We had the worst situation in the nation. The worst. Now, our numbers are on the decline and the rest of the country is on the incline. What New York did, no one could have imagined,” Cuomo said.

KEY BACKGROUND

With the number of new cases in New York largely returned to what they were in mid-March, the Empire State appears to be past the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, Cuomo said. On May 11, 2020, New York had 7,226 current hospitalizations, down from the peak of 18,825 people hospitalized on April 12, 2020.

WHAT TO WATCH

On Friday, select businesses in New York that are deemed more essential and low risk—like construction and industrial work—will be allowed to open again if work sites follow state guidelines and any additional local restrictions placed, Cuomo said. But local and state officials will need to closely monitor infection and hospitalization rates, Cuomo said, and not hesitate to pull the plug on rollbacks if they begin to increase again, like other states have seen after reopening.

FURTHER READING

Cuomo: New Coronavirus Hospitalizations In New York Fall To 572, Lowest Level Since Crisis Began (Forbes)

Cuomo Says New York Is ‘Finally Ahead Of This Virus’ (Forbes)

New York Coronavirus Hospitalizations Hit Lowest Level In Over A Month (Forbes)

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