‘FEAR IS CONTAGIOUS’
New York Gov says there will be NO shelter in place plan – despite state having most virus cases
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NEW York Governor Andrew Cuomo rubbished plans for a Shelter In Place order, despite having the most in-state cases.
NYC Mayor De Blasio said had to be "seriously considered" to curb the outbreak - but Cuomo refused as cases in doubled in a day and spreads upstate.
Cases in the Big Apple topped 4,000 in-state on Thursday, with nearly 2,000 appearing overnight.
Addressing the possible lockdown, Cuomo told reporters, "I’m telling you I’m not doing it."
"When you get that emotional that fearful, you literally don’t process information the same way," he said.
The surge of diagnoses come as testing ramps up, resulting in over 10,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US.
In New York state, 22,000 people have been tested with 7,500 tested last night, Cuomo said.
"I believe communication is important," he added.
"Say what you mean and don’t say what might alarm people.
"The level of alarm in New York City is higher than I have ever seen it."
He said Shelter In Place - which was utilized in an active shooter situation or a "nuclear holocaust" - was a deceptive term and it was scaring people.
"Words matter at this point," he said, emphasizing that "quarantine" and "lockdown" were frightening terms.
He also highlighted that San Francisco's measures were very similar to New York's as it stands in terms of school closures and canceling large events.
Cuomo also emphasized that the National Guard were called out to New York's virus hotspot New Rochelle to contain the virus rather than people.
The governor also called on 75 percent of the workforce to stay home as well as announcing that mortgage payments would be suspended for 90 days as the crisis rages on.
He previously said he doesn't believe the 8 million people affected by such an order would adhere to it if enacted in a limited space, and he has repeatedly dismissed the idea.
Speaking to the show on Wednesday, de Blasio said he would be consulting with Cuomo on the matter, saying it "has to be considered seriously."
Shaken New Yorkers have already rushed to grocery stores to stock up as they wait for an update, leaving shelves bare in many shops around the city.
The emergency measure - which was enacted in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area on Monday - mandates limited travel, social distancing, and .
On Tuesday, De Blasio warned residents they may be told in the next 48 hours to stay inside to flatten the virus' infection curve - an unprecedented measure in "the history of ."
"New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter in place order," he said.
"That has not happened yet but it is a possibility. That decision will be made in the next 48 hours."
A Shelter In Place usually occurs when there is an active shooter situation or a weather, chemical or radiological hazard.
In this case, de Blasio assured New Yorkers it would not be a draconian lockdown and they would be allowed to leave their homes to get essential items such as groceries and medicine.
"I don't see any context for closing borders, closing bridges," de Blasio told NY1.
But he admitted it would have to be a city and state measure.
However, Cuomo has said the usually bustling city will not be going on lockdown, saying "the fear, the panic is a bigger problem than the virus."
SHELTER IN PLACE
What does this measure mean?
This public health order has already been inacted in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay area. It would limit residents' travel, mandates social distancing and substantially limits public and private gatherings. Non-essential travel is prohibited in this order, but people would be allow to leave their houses for "essentials," like groceries or medicine.
As of Thursday, March 19, the killer coronavirus has claimed the lives of 140 Americans and infected thousands.
This Shelter In Place measure could be implemented because De Blasio said it won't be long before cases surge even higher.
But Cuomo was insistent that the measure wouldn't work everywhere and NYC couldn't be an exception.
He told reporters: "I don't believe any policy works unless the geographic footprint is large enough. It can't just be New York City.
"Also shelter in place, you close down your health care system, you close down your food system, you close down your transportation system. And you close down businesses. That doesn't make sense to me because people need to eat travel etc."
Earlier this week, Cuomo revealed the state for 45 days after hundreds of new cases emerged.
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He said ICU and hospital beds could be rapidly filled to capacity here as thousands of cases mount and local government appeals for former medics to go back to work.
Cuomo's daughter Michaela accompanied him to today's press briefing, where he blasted young people .
"This is so unintelligent and reckless, I can’t even begin to express it," he said as thousands of people flouted the coronavirus warnings and beach closures.
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