Cuomo Announces NYS on Pause Functions Have Been Extended

Earlier today, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced all NYS on Pause functions will be extended for an additional two weeks. The Governor also directed schools and nonessential businesses to stay closed for an additional two weeks through April 29. The state will re-evaluate after this additional two-week period.
 

Governor Cuomo also announced the state is increasing the maximum fine for violations of the state's social distancing protocol from $500 to $1,000 to help address the lack of adherence to social distancing protocols. The Governor reminded localities that they have the authority to enforce the protocols.
 

The Governor today is asking the federal government to allow the USNS Comfort hospital ship to be used for COVID-19 patients. President Trump has already granted the Governor's request for the Javits temporary hospital facility to be used for only COVID-19 positive patients, and the addition of the USNS Comfort would help relieve pressure on the state's hospital system with an addition of 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients.
 

The Governor also announced that 802 ventilators have been distributed downstate through the state's "surge and flex" system where all hospital systems are working together as one and sharing supplies, equipment and staff. Of the 802 ventilators, 38 were deployed to Rockland County, 36 were deployed to Westchester County, 505 were deployed to New York City and 223 were deployed to Long Island.
 

Governor Cuomo also announced the creation of the First Responders Fund to assist COVID-19 health care workers and first responders with expenses and costs, including child care. The State Department of Health is accepting donations for the fund, and Blackstone is making an anchor $10 million contribution to the fund. Donations can be made electronically here or by check sent to below address. Donors should specify the donation is for "COVID-19 NYS Emergency Response."

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The Governor also announced that the state is partnering with Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation, to offer free meditation and mindfulness content for all New Yorkers as a mental health resource for residents coping with the unprecedented public health crisis. New Yorkers can access a collection of science-backed, evidence-based guided meditations, along with at-home mindful workouts, sleep and kids content to help address rising stress and anxiety here.

The Governor also announced that the South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten Island and the Brooklyn Center Temporary Hospital at 170 Buffalo Avenue will open this week and will be used specifically for COVID-19 patients. 

Finally, the Governor confirmed 8,658 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 130,689 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 130,689 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

County	Total Positive	New Positive
Albany	319	14
Allegany	17	1
Broome	76	5
Cattaraugus	12	2
Cayuga	11	3
Chautauqua	15	4
Chemung	47	9
Chenango	46	3
Clinton	36	3
Columbia	59	8
Cortland	13	3
Delaware	29	2
Dutchess	1,189	112
Erie	1,023	105
Essex	7	0
Franklin	10	0
Fulton	11	2
Genesee	23	1
Greene	24	0
Hamilton	2	0
Herkimer	25	3
Jefferson	33	7
Lewis	6	3
Livingston	22	3
Madison	82	3
Monroe	574	26
Montgomery	15	0
Nassau	15,616	1,218
Niagara	120	4
NYC	72,181	4,630
Oneida	100	13
Onondaga	271	3
Ontario	32	0
Orange	3,397	295
Orleans	13	2
Oswego	29	1
Otsego	34	5
Putnam	345	31
Rensselaer	62	2
Rockland	5,703	377
Saratoga	153	5
Schenectady	138	10
Schoharie	11	0
Schuyler	4	0
Seneca	9	0
St. Lawrence	59	4
Steuben	75	12
Suffolk	13,487	1,082
Sullivan	253	19
Tioga	8	1
Tompkins	94	6
Ulster	372	40
Warren	26	1
Washington	19	1
Wayne	34	2
Westchester	14,294	571
Wyoming	23	1
Yates	1	0

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo