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The Covid-19 Pause: Liquor Stores, Laundromats and Matilda's Law

Gov. Cuomo's latest policies bring a few "starts" and more "stops"
Image: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

He calls it putting the City "on pause," so that everyone understands it means STOP... but, hopefully, not for too long.

Governor Cuomo's 10-Point Policy that he announced on Friday and which went into effect at 8:00pm on Sunday, calls for an all-out sheltering-in of residents, due to the coronavirus crisis.

As of Sunday, there were more than 15,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York State; 10,764 positive cases in New York City alone, with 1,800 people hospitalized in NYC; and a little more than 120 deaths, 100 of which were between Brooklyn and Queens.

On Thursday, Borough Park's Hatzola, an emergency service catering to the Jewish community, warned residents to stop gathering as the number of cases in Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community soared past 400.

The executive order is basically social distancing on steroids: residents who are at home or working from home are advised to stay indoors at all times, unless there's an urgent need to leave.

Picking up groceries or medication, or in the case of a medical emergency would qualify as a good reason. And oh yeah, you're allowed to peak your head out for a little fresh air or a bit of solitary exercise.

Cuomo also put into effect "Matilda's Law," named after his mother, to help protect seniors, immunocompromised people and those with underlying illnesses. This population of residents are required to:

  • Remain indoors as much as possible
  • Stay six feet away from people.
  • Wear masks in the company of others
  • Prescreen all visitors and aides.
  • Avoid households with multiple people.
  • Avoid public transportation unless urgent.

There's a 90-Day eviction freeze.  Cuomo also announced that most hospitals will be canceling all non-critical, such as hip replacements, knee replacements, tummy tucks or facelifts, which will free up 25 -35 percent of available hospital beds. He also asked for retired doctors and nurses to come back into service.

And he called for the closure of all "non-essential" businesses. Which businesses would that be? Well, there are literally thousands of businesses in hundreds of categories. It's much easier to look at who is essential, so here is a list of who qualifies as essential employees:

  • Essential health care operations, including research and laboratory services
  • Essential infrastructure, including utilities
  • Telecommunication
  • Airports and transportation infrastructure
  • Essential manufacturing, including food processing and pharmaceuticals
  • Essential retail, including grocery stores and pharmacies
  • Essential services, including trash collection
  • Mail and shipping services
  • News media
  • Banks and related financial institutions
  • Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
  • Construction
  • Vendors of essential services necessary to maintain the safety
  • Sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses
  • Vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support.
  • Child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public.

...And, surprise, surprise: Liquor stores are considered "essential businesses" (Oy vay, New York City), along with services like laundromats and animal-care clinics.

For more updates on the coronavirus in Brooklyn, go here.




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