NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that New York state was extending the moratorium on evictions until August as millions of renters face financial uncertainty amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Cuomo said the current moratorium, which expires in June, would be extended by 60 days until Aug. 20.
"No one can be evicted for non-payment of rent—residential or commercial—because of COVID until Aug. 20," Cuomo said.
Cuomo said late-payment fees won't be allowed during the moratorium and renters can use their security deposit to pay rent.
"People are anxious, and June for many people is just next month, and the rent is going to become due," the governor said.
New York state's death toll rose by 231 Thursday to 20,828.
The number of deaths surpassed 20,000 late Wednesday as the state reported nearly 1,000 more.
There were at least 323,978 cases of coronavirus reported statewide as of Thursday.
Cuomo reported a "fairly significant drop" in hospitalizations—there were 8,600 statewide.
Hospitalizations, intubations and the three-day rolling average of new hospitalizations were all down, Cuomo said.
“The downside of the mountain is a much more gentle slope than what we went through going up the mountain. We wish it was a steeper decline, but it’s not,” the governor said.