NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Amid growing concern over coronavirus clusters in parts of the Hudson Valley and New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday warned local governments that they face fines if they don't enforce COVID-related orders like mask requirements.
The governor said he'd directed the Department of Health to send an order to local governments in COVID hotspots requiring them to report how they're enforcing emergency health regulations and executive orders related to social distancing, mask compliance and capacity limitations.
If the local governments don't follow the orders and enforce the rules, they face penalties of up to $10,000 per day, the governor said.
"The Commissioner of Health will issue a Section 16 order to the local governments advising them that they have to step up the compliance, that it is the law and if the local governments don't step up the compliance, they will actually be in violation of the law and they can be fined," Cuomo said in a statement.
Cuomo said the hotspot ZIP codes—including parts of Rockland and Orange counties, as well as areas of Brooklyn and Queens—have an infection rate of about 6.4%, while the rest of the state has an infection rate of about 1.03%.
The governor said "our priority and our focus" is on the hotspots and that the Department of Health had people on the ground in the impacted ZIP codes.
In an interview with 1010 WINS on Friday, Cuomo said New York can't let its guard down. "People talk about COVID fatigue. You know, 'I'm tired of wearing a mask.' The virus isn't tired," he said.
"I've told the local governments, 'Do the compliance, enforce the compliance.' We have to take it seriously. And when we see it starting in these clusters, we have to jump on it and make sure it doesn't spread beyond these clusters," Cuomo said.
The governor said the time for public education is over. "I don't think you can find a person in New York City who hasn't heard that message, 'Wear a mask.'"
"This state has one of the lowest infection rates in the nation—and we should be proud of it—but we did that because we came together and we were disciplined, and we have to keep that discipline up," Cuomo said. "And for the people who would violate it, they don't have that right, frankly. And that's what the local governments have to make clear. Just enforce the law. That's what it's about."
In his interview with WINS, the governor also reacted to news that both President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID.
"All New Yorkers wish the president well," Cuomo said. "You know we can have political differences—as you know, I have political differences with the president, and that's been clear—but put politics aside. This is on a very human level. I went through this with my family. It's frightening to get COVID, and it's frightening for the whole family and the kids. So we wish him and the first lady a speedy recovery."
The governor said the fact that the president could catch COVID should serve as a warning.
"It's a wakeup call to everyone. Take this seriously. Take the precautions seriously," Cuomo said. "This is the president of the United States. And I can tell you, because I've been to the White House with him many times. He has a whole operation around him that tests, and they have protocols in place. And still the president contracted the virus. So be smart. There are no superheroes here."
