New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday that the state extended the NY Pause order until May 15th. The state will also be implementing additional measures to reduce the rate of infection, including requiring masks in public when social distancing is not possible.
As a part of the plan to slowly come back from quarantine rules and bring the economy back online, Cuomo spoke about a blueprint to un-pause New York once again. In a statement from Cuomo’s office about the plan it mentioned phasing in an economic return to a “new normal.”
”The ultimate plan will be implemented in coordination with other states in the multi-state council,” the statement said.
Along with extending the pause order to May 15th, the governor outlined additional steps to control the infection while slowly bringing back the economy, including strengthening the healthcare system by continuing “the surge and flex strategy to ensure anyone who needs medical attention gets it, building out the strategic stockpile of PPE and other medical equipment, and sharing resources amongst states and localities.”
The statement also talked about testing and contact tracing for COVID-19.
“The best tool to inform decisions and calibrate progress of any phased reopening of the economy is through both diagnostic and antibody testing,” the statement said.
Calling it a phased return to "new normal," Cuomo’s statement said that their approach is to assess businesses and open based on priority and risk evaluation. Businesses that are more essential will be evaluated for risk of infection to workers and customers.
“As the infection rate declines, the pace of reopening businesses will be increased,” the statement said.
Cuomo said the state will focus on re-opening businesses now that the curve has flattened and the spread of the virus seems to be under control.
"The first part of the plan is to do no harm - don't let that infection rate go up to the best of your ability and don't lose the progress that we have made,” he said.
After stabilizing the healthcare system and ramping up testing the state’s focus will be on recovery.
“Then we can focus on phasing an economic return to the new normal,” he said. “But we need all those activities going on at the same time for our plan to un-pause New York to work."