Governor Cuomo discusses the coronavirus and reopening business in the Southern Tier
(Photo by Zachary Meseck)
NEW YORK STATE - New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the Southern Tier on Tuesday, delivering a coronavirus update with a warning that local governments need to hold businesses accountable as they start to reopen.
The update took place Tuesday afternoon at the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Johnson City. Cuomo provided a general overview of current coronavirus information, a timeline for reopening businesses, and his take on why wearing a mask is about showing respect for others.
Cuomo said New York State has a better handle on the rise of coronavirus cases in the United States. He said while certain regions within the state have lower reports of the virus, it's important that New York State as a whole reopen slowly to avoid closing back down later on.
He added that the virus is constantly mutating, and now there appears to be a number of COVID created inflammatory diseases appearing in children.
“We thought, initially, that it didn't affect children. We're now dealing with an issue that's very disturbing,” he said. “We have about 100 cases of an inflammatory disease in young children that seems to be created by the COVID virus.”
The governor said t he symptoms of the children were similar to toxic shock-like syndrome, but it's an inflammation of the blood vessels and can affect the heart.
Two boys ages five and seven had died, along with 18-year-old girl due to the illness.
“The ages of the children affected in these 100 cases is all across the board, as you can see,” said Cuomo. “Less than one year old, predominantly 5 to 14, but we lost a young lady at 18 years old and we have some cases up to 21 years old.”
“So this is a truly disturbing situation and I know parents around the state and around the country are very concerned about this and they should be.”
He said keeping the rising number of deaths in mind, and looking at the rest of the world to see what New York State should do next should both be prioritized when local governments move to reopen municipalities.
“Smart means: learning from the mistakes of others,” said Cuomo. “We're not the first one down this path.”
“Look at what's happening in the other states and inform your actions by what happened in other places that went through this same process and you'll see many of the other places rushed reopening and actually had to backtrack and then close again - that's the last thing that we would want here in New York.”
Cuomo said another concern with reopening businesses is the government's ability to ensure businesses implement social distancing guidelines. He said local governments will be in charge of making sure the guidelines are being followed, and that it’s possible local governments could move to the next phase out of his four phase plan every 14 days.
“They make sure businesses are complying with the safety precautions when the businesses go back,” he said. “Every business is going to say ‘don't worry, don't worry, I'll have safety precautions, I'll socially distance, I'll give equipment.’”
“Are they actually doing that? Are we staying away from large gatherings? Are we making sure? That's up to the local government.”
Cuomo said an additional concern is that businesses may begin laying off workers under the guise of temporary coronavirus lay-offs with no intent of rehiring them. He said to help address that concern he has proposed a law that requires businesses to rehire the same amount of employees it had before coronavirus lay-offs.
“I want to propose a law that's very simple: Americans First,” said Cuomo. “Americans first. Not America first, Americans first. Protect the worker. Corporation wants a bail out? Corporation wants money? Fine. But if you do not rehire the same number of employees, give the money back.”
“If you do not rehire the same number of employees, no government gift and bail out for you. That's the Americans First law. Very simple but undeniable.”
He said at the same time, there is a need to reopen and local regions should work cautiously towards ensuring there isn’t a coronavirus case spike during each phase of “UNPAUSE New York.”
He added that continued mask usage will help to reduce the number of coronavirus cases, and wearing a mask is a sign of respect for the other people individuals come into contact with.
“When you wear a mask, you say, I respect you.That's what the mask says to everyone you walk past,” said Cuomo. “This mask says I respect the nurses and the doctors who killed themselves through this virus to save other people, and I respect the nurses and the doctors, so I'm not going to infect anyone, or allow anyone else to be infected unnecessarily so I don't cause more stress on the nurses and the doctors.”
“This mask says, I respect the essential workers who get up every day, and drive the bus, or drive the train, or deliver the food, or keep the lights on so that I can stay home and I can stay safe. It says I respect others, and I respect you.”
The update took place Tuesday afternoon at the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Johnson City. Cuomo provided a general overview of current coronavirus information, a timeline for reopening businesses, and his take on why wearing a mask is about showing respect for others.
Cuomo said New York State has a better handle on the rise of coronavirus cases in the United States. He said while certain regions within the state have lower reports of the virus, it's important that New York State as a whole reopen slowly to avoid closing back down later on.
He added that the virus is constantly mutating, and now there appears to be a number of COVID created inflammatory diseases appearing in children.
“We thought, initially, that it didn't affect children. We're now dealing with an issue that's very disturbing,” he said. “We have about 100 cases of an inflammatory disease in young children that seems to be created by the COVID virus.”
The governor said t he symptoms of the children were similar to toxic shock-like syndrome, but it's an inflammation of the blood vessels and can affect the heart.
Two boys ages five and seven had died, along with 18-year-old girl due to the illness.
“The ages of the children affected in these 100 cases is all across the board, as you can see,” said Cuomo. “Less than one year old, predominantly 5 to 14, but we lost a young lady at 18 years old and we have some cases up to 21 years old.”
“So this is a truly disturbing situation and I know parents around the state and around the country are very concerned about this and they should be.”
He said keeping the rising number of deaths in mind, and looking at the rest of the world to see what New York State should do next should both be prioritized when local governments move to reopen municipalities.
“Smart means: learning from the mistakes of others,” said Cuomo. “We're not the first one down this path.”
“Look at what's happening in the other states and inform your actions by what happened in other places that went through this same process and you'll see many of the other places rushed reopening and actually had to backtrack and then close again - that's the last thing that we would want here in New York.”
Cuomo said another concern with reopening businesses is the government's ability to ensure businesses implement social distancing guidelines. He said local governments will be in charge of making sure the guidelines are being followed, and that it’s possible local governments could move to the next phase out of his four phase plan every 14 days.
“They make sure businesses are complying with the safety precautions when the businesses go back,” he said. “Every business is going to say ‘don't worry, don't worry, I'll have safety precautions, I'll socially distance, I'll give equipment.’”
“Are they actually doing that? Are we staying away from large gatherings? Are we making sure? That's up to the local government.”
Cuomo said an additional concern is that businesses may begin laying off workers under the guise of temporary coronavirus lay-offs with no intent of rehiring them. He said to help address that concern he has proposed a law that requires businesses to rehire the same amount of employees it had before coronavirus lay-offs.
“I want to propose a law that's very simple: Americans First,” said Cuomo. “Americans first. Not America first, Americans first. Protect the worker. Corporation wants a bail out? Corporation wants money? Fine. But if you do not rehire the same number of employees, give the money back.”
“If you do not rehire the same number of employees, no government gift and bail out for you. That's the Americans First law. Very simple but undeniable.”
He said at the same time, there is a need to reopen and local regions should work cautiously towards ensuring there isn’t a coronavirus case spike during each phase of “UNPAUSE New York.”
He added that continued mask usage will help to reduce the number of coronavirus cases, and wearing a mask is a sign of respect for the other people individuals come into contact with.
“When you wear a mask, you say, I respect you.That's what the mask says to everyone you walk past,” said Cuomo. “This mask says I respect the nurses and the doctors who killed themselves through this virus to save other people, and I respect the nurses and the doctors, so I'm not going to infect anyone, or allow anyone else to be infected unnecessarily so I don't cause more stress on the nurses and the doctors.”
“This mask says, I respect the essential workers who get up every day, and drive the bus, or drive the train, or deliver the food, or keep the lights on so that I can stay home and I can stay safe. It says I respect others, and I respect you.”
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