NEW YORK (TIP): New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday, March 20  ordered that all employees of all non-essential businesses must stay at home and urged residents to stay indoors as much as possible as the coronavirus cases in the state reached over 6,800, with fatalities standing at 22. The rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases  forced the governor to announce the extreme measures which he has been resisting  despite of requests from the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“I will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. This order excludes pharmacies, grocery stores, and others,” Cuomo said.

He also announced Matilda’s Law, named after his mother, to mandate people aged 70+ and those with compromised  immune systems to remain indoors and pre-screen visitors by taking temperature.

Visitors should wear masks and stay 6 feet away from others, he said.

“I call it Matilda’s Law. My mother’s name is Matilda. Everybody’s mother, father, sister, friend (are) in a vulnerable population – this is about protecting them. What you do, highly affects their health and wellbeing,” Cuomo said.

The Governor ordered cancellation of all non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason.

He said if people do go out for reasons such as buying groceries, they are required to stay six feet away from each other.

“We are laser focused on protecting those most at risk,” Cuomo said.

Total COVID-19 cases in the US now stand at 10,442 and there have been 150 fatalities.

Cuomo said public transportation will keep running for nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers and other essential personnel.

“Everyone else: Limit the use of public transportation to only when absolutely necessary,” he said, adding that such measures will put the state in “PAUSE – Policies, Assure, Uniform, Safety for Everyone”.

He warned that the state will enforce the orders effective Sunday night.

“These are not helpful hints. I am not kidding about this,” he added.

These provisions will be enforced,” Cuomo said. “Your actions can affect my health.”

Even as he offered a dire assessment of the crisis, the governor sparred with reporters who asserted that the new measures amounted to exactly what he said he was avoiding.

Cuomo said he was seeking to limit contact between New Yorkers to reduce the spread of the deadly virus — and compared the rise in cases to a plumbing valve.

“Tighten the valve more,” Cuomo said. “We’re closing the valve.”

Earlier, yesterday, Governor Cuomo announced that mortgage payments will be waived for 90 days for those with financial hardships as the state ramps up measures to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the new coronavirus. He added that  overdraft fees on ATMs and credit cards will also be waived.

(With inputs from PTI))