Public Advocate, Officials Call For NYC Shelter-In-Place

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — New Yorkers should shelter-in-place to protect vulnerable people from the novel coronavirus, urged the city's Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

Williams made his plea Friday over a video conference call, flanked and supported by Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee and City Councilman Stephen Levin. Within an hour, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a "stay in place" order that he denied was "shelter-in-place" but had rules similar to those imposed in San Francisco.

San Francisco broadly ordered that people shouldn't leave their homes unless for essential goods, services and activity. A decision on similar rules in New York City was muddied by a dispute over authority between Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The rules don't have to be called "shelter-in-place," Williams said.

"Whatever you want to call it, I'm asking all New Yorkers to stay home unless you need to come out for food, medicine, light exercise or to walk the dog," Williams said.

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Lee echoed Williams' call. She said Queens residents and New Yorkers should follow the San Francisco model.

It's all about limited the growth, or curve, of coronavirus, Lee said.

"We need to stay ahead of the curve, and we can bend that curve," she said.

Levin, who represents several Brooklyn neighborhoods including Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy, pointed out coronavirus' spread can grow exponentially unless people limit contact. Indeed, New York City with its now-4,000 cases has now become the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, said de Blasio on Friday.

"Right now we’re at a very critical time," Levin said.

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