NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Staten Island lawmaker on Thursday slammed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new COVID-19 rules limiting private gatherings to just 10 people.
On Wednesday, the governor announced that New York would limit private gatherings in households to just 10 people in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. He also set a curfew for bars, restaurants and gyms across the state.
On Thursday, Republican Councilman Joe Borelli, who represents Staten Island, said the new coronavirus rules and restrictions were “ridiculous.”
He took to Twitter, saying he would be hosting a Thanksgiving gathering with more than 10 people, regardless of the rules.
“I'll be having more than 10 ppl at my house on Thanksgiving. My address is public record. Some family will come from (gasp!) New Jersey,” Borelli wrote.
New Jersey has seen an influx in COVID-19 cases, and on Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo suggested that Staten Island’s numbers were rising because residents in the borough spend a lot of time going to and from New Jersey. Much of Staten Island has been labeled a yellow coronavirus hot spot.
The Republican represents the South Shore of the borough which includes the two ZIP codes with the highest positivity rate in all of New York City.
Borough President James Oddo, at the mayor's daily coronavirus briefing, said he understands COVID fatigue but added, "Don't have the gratuitous gatherings, be subject to one another, be smart about the holidays coming up."
Still, Borelli told WCBS 880 that the governor cannot control what happens at private residences.
“This is someone’s private residence and in my case, my family, we're about 11 or 12. And I'm sorry, but the governor is not going to tell me that I can't invite the same 11 or 12 people that were over my house last weekend,” he said.
The city councilman has garnered likes, but others are blasting him on Twitter for setting a poor example and possibly putting his family at risk.
“C'mon man. This is highly irresponsible. You may have some legit gripes about the how but the universal message of everyone doing their part should be shared,” New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams wrote in response to the tweet. “Even if this was a private family decision publicizing it is not helpful in any way.”
Asked about taking personal responsibility, Borelli told WCBS 880, "No one in my family is forced to come to my Thanksgiving dinner table if they don't want to come or if they think it's not healthy or worth it. They can choose not to and that's just the basic premise of our freedom in the United States of America and unfortunately no order by Gov. Cuomo can negate that."
Dr. John White, the Chief Medical Officer at WebMD, says cases will definitely rise after Thanksgiving weekend.
“We've seen it in every other type of holiday, after July 4th, after Labor Day. Let's be realistic. Everyone, as I mentioned, is not going to follow these guidelines and some of them aren’t going to follow them at all, regrettably,” Dr. White said.
Even though over 242,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, White says many still dismiss the seriousness of the virus.
Stay informed, stay connected — follow WCBS 880 on Facebook and Twitter. Download the RADIO.COM app + favorite WCBS 880 for breaking news, traffic and weather alerts.