Cuomo To Order Cut In Workforce Of Non-Essential Businesses

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the number of cases of the new coronavirus in New York jumped by more than 1,000 since Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he will order all non-essential businesses in New York to have at least half their employees work from home. The latest measure follows a series of dramatic steps the state has taken to "flatten the curve," and prevent a wave of looming new coronavirus cases from overwhelming hospitals.

At a news conference, he said the state will be issuing a list of what are considered "essential" businesses shortly, but would include health care, food, pharmacy and the supply industry.

Essential services industries shipping, media, warehousing, grocery and food production, pharmacies, healthcare providers, utilities, banks and related financial institutions and other industries critical to the supply chain.

"I understand this is a burden to businesses, but in truth we are past that point as a nation," Cuomo said.

Follow all the coronavirus updates in New York. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

He said we have to deal with one crisis at a time, so we must maintain the public health and figure out the economic fallout later.

Cuomo said there are 2,382 positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, up 1,008 since Tuesday.

Westchester still leads the region with 538 positive cases. That is an increase in 158 from Tuesday. Orange County saw an increase of 17 cases, making its new total 32. Rockland now has 30 cases, up eight, and Dutchess has 20 cases, which is up four. Ulster now has nine, up one, and Putnam is unchanged with two cases.

Cuomo reiterated Wednesday that experts project the disease will peak in about 45 days, meaning the state could need as many as 110,000 hospital beds. It currently has a capacity of just 52,000 beds.

Even more pressing: the state currently has about 3,000 intensive care beds — meaning they have a ventilator that can help people breathe — and they could need as many as 37,000.

"It's all about the ventilators," Cuomo said.

He said that 549 out of 2,382 positive cases of the virus have required hospitalization — or 23 percent, up 3 percent from Tuesday.

Cuomo said it was vital to build up the number of beds available. He said he met with hospital administrators Tuesday and said some of the health department's regulation — such as the amount of space between hospital beds — would be waived.

One thing that is being considered is setting up mobile hospitals, with a capacity of 200 to 250, that would allow hospitals to move less-critical patients off premises.

"That is something we can get done within the 45 days," Cuomo said.

Coronavirus in New York and beyond:

• Westchester Puts Out Call For Nurses During Coronavirus Outbreak
  
• Coronavirus Outbreak Predicted To Peak In 45 Days: Cuomo
• To Keep Seniors Safe At Home, Medicare Expands Telemedicine
• New York Paid Leave Bill: What It Means During Coronavirus
• Non-Essential NY Businesses Told Half Of Workers Must Stay Home
• Coronavirus Live U.S. Updates: Canada Border Closes, Schools Shut

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.