Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered all schools and non-essential businesses closed until April 29. He is also increasing the civil penalty for violating the executive orders barring gatherings of more …
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered all schools and non-essential businesses closed until April 29.
He is also increasing the civil penalty for violating the executive orders barring gatherings of more than a few people, calling on local governments to step up and strictly enforce the measure.
The school closure extends nine days past the initial decision by St. Lawrence County superintendents and BOCES to close schools until April 20.
Cuomo, during a Monday, April 6 press conference, said experts believe the social distancing measures are working, but if we give up now it could be a disaster.
“There’s a real danger of getting overconfident too quickly,” Cuomo said. “There has been a laxness on social distancing, especially over this past weekend, that has been wholly unacceptable.”
He said the penalty for gathering in large groups for non-essential purposes is now $1,000, up from $500.
“Nobody wants the money. We want the compliance. We are serious,” he said.
The governor said the cautionary measures are aimed at keeping people from catching the coronavirus and possibly needing hospital beds. And local cases have surged. Since the first reported case at the end on March, St. Lawrence County now has nearly 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“People in the healthcare system are exposing themselves every day … then they have to go home to their family,” Cuomo said. “You burden people you don’t know, and frankly you don’t have the right to burden with your irresponsibility.”
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