Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered 75 percent of the state’s office workers to go home. Cuomo boosted his work-from-home order from 50 to 75 percent in a news conference Thursday morning.
Cuomo says he’s asking all companies to let people work from home if they can, but ordering non-essential workers to primarily stay out of the office. Essential workers including food service and health care are excluded.
Cuomo also says State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker is working with New York’s hospital industry to see how many more beds can be fitted into the state’s hospitals. The state is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify buildings across the state than can be converted into temporary hospital wards.
To help people who have lost their jobs or had their hours substantially cut back because of the virus, Cuomo is ordering a 90 day waiver on mortgage payments and bank overdraft penalties. Cuomo says these will not affect your credit rating.
Governor Cuomo praised the federal government for sending the Corps of Engineers and “stepping up to the plate” on the coronavirus response.
Cuomo also criticized young people for going to Spring Break in Florida despite the virus. He said they may be at less risk than older people…but they could easily infect and kill someone older when they come home.