PHOTOS: NYC at a standstill amid coronavirus ‘stay home’ order
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced sweeping orders Friday that will severely restrict gatherings of any size for the state’s more than 19 million residents and will require workers in nonessential businesses to stay home.
No more play dates. No more pickup basketball. No more subway rides except if absolutely necessary.
The governor said the “drastic action” was needed to check the rapid spread of the coronavirus virus in a state with more than 8,000 confirmed cases, the most in the nation. New York’s restrictions, effective 8 p.m. Sunday, come a day after California decided to all but confine its population in the biggest lockdown in the U.S.
Under the rules, nonessential gatherings of people of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed, including parties and celebrations.
Workers seen as essential to keeping society functioning were exempt. The category was somewhat expansive, including delivery workers and convenience and liquor store clerks, along with many others including teachers, cops and health care workers.
People will be able to walk outside or take part in non-contact activities, but should not be “playing basketball with five other people,” Cuomo said.
The restrictions will ban parents from bringing kids to play dates at friends’ houses or to playgrounds, if they can’t guarantee ample space with other people.
Public transit will keep running, but people besides essential workers should only use it when absolutely necessary.
People will need to stay at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from others when they are out in public, Cuomo said.
The new restrictions were met with resignation by people across the state, where museums, clubs and many restaurants are already shuttered and big gatherings were already prohibited.
