New York City officials have told New Yorkers over 65 and those with underlying conditions to stay home amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi appeared alongside Bill de Blasio Tuesday as the mayor's administration made the announcement.
A statement read: 'Effective immediately, the City's Health Commissioner is advising older adults and people with underlying health conditions who are at an increased risk of severe COVID-related illness to limit activities outside the home, except leaving home to travel to work or school, or for essential purposes including medical care, grocery shopping or pharmacy necessities.'
Governor Andrew Cuomo later clarified that the announcement was 'not a restriction' and said senior citizens are 'not imprisoned in your own home'. He told reporters: 'There is no restriction on people over 70 leaving their home.'
Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi, left, appeared alongside Bill de Blasio, right, Tuesday as the mayor's administration made the announcement
The NYC advisory issued Tuesday 'also applies to household members and caregivers of these individuals'.
'Those covered by this advisory should also wear a face covering at all times indoors and outdoors including when around members of their own household who have known exposure to COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms of the virus, or frequently interact with the public', the statement continued.
But Cuomo said: 'New York City offered guidance, advice, which is the same advice and guidance that we have been issuing and they have been issuing and every expert has been issuing since this started.
'Senior citizens should be on alert, people over 70 should be alert. You’re 70 years old, you can do whatever you want to do in life. My advice is: Be careful. You are not imprisoned in your own home.'
Coronavirus cases in NYC hit more than 290,000 Tuesday; 24,274 people in the city have died. Its daily positive-test rate is 5.7 percent; its seven-day rolling average is 4.14 percent.
Statewide hospitalizations increased by 200 to 3,774; the positive test rate has jumped to 4.96 percent. An additional 66 people died across New York but the transmission rate is said to be just a fifth of what it was in March.
A major blood drive has been launched with the aim of collecting 25,000 blood, plasma, and platelet donations over the holiday season.
The mayor's office say the pandemic has 'created a chronic deficit in blood donations'.
De Blasio said: 'Giving blood makes a difference. It's an easy, meaningful way to give back to your community this holiday season, and I urge New Yorkers to join the fight this month to keep New York City healthy.'
Chokshi added: 'Throughout this pandemic, the people of this city have stepped up and done what was needed to keep each other healthy.
'Donating blood is one more way to quite literally give life to our fellow New Yorkers. Schedule appointment today.'
Governor Andrew Cuomo later clarified that the announcement was 'not a restriction' and said senior citizens are 'not imprisoned in your own home'. He told reporters: 'There is no restriction on people over 70 leaving their home'
New York’s hospitals must prepare for an expected surge in coronavirus infections by stockpiling masks and gowns, expanding capacity and identifying retired nurses and doctors who could pitch in, Gov. Cuomo said Monday.
Cuomo said that with more than 3,500 people now hospitalized statewide for COVID-19 and more cases expected in the coming weeks, hospitals must draw up plans to redistribute patients both within health care networks and between networks so that no one hospital becomes overwhelmed, as happened when the pandemic first hit New York last spring.
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