New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced a 100 percent reduction in "nonessential" business operations on Friday, shutting his state down amid the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.
"When I talk about the most drastic action we can take, this is the most drastic action we can take," Cuomo said during a press conference. He urged residents to “remain indoors to protect” their health.
"We're going to take it to the ultimate step, which is we're going to close the valve," Cuomo stated. On Thursday, he ordered 75 percent of workers in "nonessential" businesses to work from home.
While Cuomo did not describe the executive order a "shelter in place" order — after saying Thursday that the term "came from nuclear war" — the directive effectively operates the same as that issued by California governor Gavin Newsom, who on Thursday ordered all 40 million state residents to stay at home.
Cuomo added that "these are legal provisions" and that "they will be enforced" with civil fines and mandatory closures for any non-compliant businesses, with “no civil fines on individuals at this time.”
"Your actions can affect my health, that's where we are," he stated. Cuomo also revealed that the state had 2,950 new coronavirus cases overnight to reach over 7,000 total — with over 50 percent concentrated in New York City — after doing “10,000 tests last night.”
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