STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers on Monday to increase their efforts to “socially distance” themselves in the next week, warning of possible further measures restricting human interaction.
New York City has become the epicenter of the American coronavirus outbreak, and its residents, particularly its young people, have repeatedly been the targets of criticism for not heeding orders to be isolated.
Multiple reports have highlighted group gatherings across the city, including a Sunday wedding on Staten Island, showing people flouting government orders to limit gatherings and maintain at least six feet of separation.
“We’re New Yorkers,'' de Blasio said. "We’re used to crowds. We’re used to lines. We’re used to being close together. Not anymore. We are not going allow crowds to form.”
City agencies will increase efforts to ensure New Yorkers are practicing social distancing this week, according to de Blasio. Signage will also be posted to help people better understand the best practices and benefits of social distancing.
He said the increased efforts will begin focusing on city parks and other places where people congregate. The efforts will be conducted in partnership with the NYPD, Parks Department and other city agencies.
“If we see people in groups, we’re gonna break them up,'' the mayor said. "If we see a place that’s too crowded, we’re gonna get people to disperse. We want to see how this is going...If we don’t think it can be done, we’re going to have to come up with tougher rules.”
No large gatherings or team sports will be allowed in city parks. Barbecues are also prohibited for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.
The mayor dialed back his criticism of the Trump administration, saying he had a conversation with the president and Vice President Mike Pence that went well.
He said the administration committed to sending 400 ventilators to the city from the federal government’s stockpile. He also said the administration is sending a stockpile of protective equipment for the city’s medical professionals.
Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and de Blasio have sounded the alarm on supplies and called for market intervention from the federal government for things like masks, gloves, and, particularly, ventilators.
Democrats, including members of the party’s congressional delegation, have called on the president to use the powers granted by the federal Defense Production Act to mandate private industry to shift its production focus to what the nation needs to fight the virus.
As of Monday morning, there were 20,875 cases statewide with 12,305 in city, and 157 deaths in the state. The two Staten Island hospitals told the Advance/SILive.com Monday that they were aware of 12 deaths in the borough caused by the virus.
***