Cuomo To Youths: Pandemic Isn't Time To Fight For Right To Party

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo dropped some ill communication on New York's young adults: the coronavirus pandemic is not the time to fight for your right to party.

But Cuomo didn't completely buck the Beastie Boys.

"I respect your right to party, I fully respect it," he said. "I would enshrine it in state law if you want to know. You have the right to party, but let's be smart about it."

Cuomo on Thursday called out young partiers, especially in New York City, as one of two threats to the state's now-low coronavirus numbers.

Rambunctious, boozy, youthful gatherings pose as much of a coronavirus threat to New York as rising rates in 39 other states, he said.

Coronavirus rates among adults from 21 to 30 have ticked up 4 percent in the past two weeks, he said.

"There is an attitude that young people are immune: you are not," he said. "Twenty-one to 30, the virus can kill you. And if it doesn't kill you, you can bring it home and give to someone inadvertently and it can kill them."

Cuomo called on NYPD to step up enforcement on social distancing and other measures to stop the coronavirus' spread. He also unveiled an ad that includes youths repeating, "COVID won't kill me," only to be met with a blunt retort: "Famous last words. Don't let them be yours."

The ad will be rolled out on social media and television in the coming days.