Chris Rock, Rosie Perez Spread Word On Coronavirus Tests, Masks

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklynites just won't listen to anyone not from their borough.

It's an only-partially-joking frustration voiced Thursday by half-Brooklynite and, thus, spurned public health messenger Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And it's why he launched a Brooklyn coronavirus testing and mask wearing awareness campaign with help from two of the borough's own: Rosie Perez and Chris Rock.

"They're going to communicate this message that it's important for an individual's health, for a family's health and it's important for all our health," Cuomo said. "We're one family in New York, one family in Brooklyn, one family in Queens, one family in New York City, and do it for the good of the family."

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Cuomo, flanked on either side by fedora-sporting Rock and Perez, made the announcement in a Madison Square Boys and Girls Club in Flatbush.

It's a neighborhood where recent antibody tests showed 45 percent of people tested had COVID-19 antibodies, according to information released during Cuomo's presentation. Of those, 88 percent were black or Hispanic, the information stated.

That indicates a large number of people in the neighborhood had the new coronavirus at some point. The citywide rate stood at about 20 percent.

Perez hearkened to the famous saying, "Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way." She said the way to spread that — as opposed to the virus — is by getting tested, practicing social distancing and wearing a mask or face covering.

"That says I love you, and you love me," she said. "I respect you, and you respect me back. I don't care who you voted for, I don't care who you're going to vote for — all I care about is that we get out of this pandemic as quickly as possible and as safely as possible."

Rock stressed the importance of getting tested, which he had done earlier that day.

"People need to make it a festive occasion," he said. "They need to posse up and get tested. Like all the crew is getting tested, and the family should get tested. And, you know, if you love your grandmother, you love your elderly mother, your elderly anybody, you should get tested."

Cuomo also announced he would sign an order allowing businesses to deny entry to people who do not wear masks or face coverings.

Perez said the mask order will help reduce the anxiety over going into a store.

Rock estimated about 40 percent of people in his Brooklyn neighborhood wearing masks. He said it's sad to see mask wearing become a political issue, rather than one of health.

"The kids really aren't wearing a mask," he said.

"When you see hipsters and yuppies walking around without a mask, is it arrogance?" asked Perez.

"Do you think you're not going to be affected? Okay fine, but I'm going to be affected as well."

People not wearing masks are mostly young, Cuomo said. He said younger people can still contract the coronavirus, spread it and kill their loved ones.

Perez and Rock offered to help spread the word going forward in any way they could.

Their help comes on the cusp of New York City taking steps to reopen, possibly in early June.

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