60 million in New York, California restricted over coronavirus

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York and California imposed tough new restrictions, limiting the activity of 60 million people in the two states to curb the spread of the coronavirus and ordering all non-essential workers to stay at home.

In announcing Friday’s action, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pleaded for more medical personnel and supplies to treat coronavirus cases that could overwhelm the hospitals in his state of nearly 20 million.

“This is the most drastic action we can take,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in announcing he would issue an executive order to mandate that 100% of the non-essential workforce stay home and all non-essential businesses close.

“Remain indoors, go outside for solitary exercise,” he said.

In Berkeley, California, many more people were out walking their dogs, running and biking than on a usual weekday morning, with pedestrians avoiding passing one another on the narrow sidewalks by veering onto the nearly empty street.

The California health orders on the state’s 40 million people, imposed on Thursday, also allow for outside exercise as long as people stay six feet (two meters) apart.

Venture capitalist Meredith Finn, 37, was walking her dog Brady in the affluent West Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood, where streets were emptier than usual.

“It’s definitely the right move,” she said of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s order. The order took immediate effect and he left open the duration.

“We need to take it really seriously and prevent spread of the disease. Obviously, it’s not the most fun to be home alone but I’m taking my dog out for short walks. I’m trying to stay in touch with friends and family with FaceTime and Zoom.”

More than 1,000 cases have been confirmed in California, where 19 people have died.

In Washington, D.C., U.S. President Donald Trump and other officials told reporters the United States was working with Mexico to suspend non-essential travel at the border. The border with Canada already is closed to non-essential traffic.

“Let me be clear that neither of these agreements with Canada or Mexico applies to lawful trade or commerce,” acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said. “Essential commercial activities will not be impacted.”

The pandemic has upended life in much of the United States, shuttering schools and businesses, prompting millions to work from home, forcing many out of jobs and sharply curtailing travel.

VENTILATORS NEEDED

The New York state order would be enforced with civil fines and mandatory closures for any businesses not in compliance, he said. Cuomo said it was not a “shelter in place” order and neither was California’s.

Cuomo said essential services included food suppliers to grocery stores, pharmacies that needs drugs, keeping the internet working, and water and electricity supplies.

New York has 7,102 confirmed cases, 2,950 of which are new. The hospitalization rate is 18%. Of the state’s cases, 4,408 are in New York City, the most populous U.S. city with about 8.5 million people.

Cuomo pleaded for the manufacture of ventilators and protective masks for an expected surge in cases.

“The ventilators are to this war what missiles were to World War Two,” Cuomo said. He said the state would “pay a premium” to companies that could provide more personal protective equipment, gloves and masks, and he asked companies that might be capable of making these products to “get creative.”

More than 200 people have died in the United States and over 14,600 cases had been confirmed by Friday, the surge in cases reflecting an increase in testing. Health experts believe the actual number of COVID-19 cases to be far higher.

Click here for a GRAPHIC on U.S. cases.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it had temporarily closed the air traffic control tower at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York because a technician had tested positive and controllers would work at an alternate location on airport property.

Part of the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center was closed for cleaning after new cases of COVID-19 were reported.

DISTRESS THERAPY

Psychologists and psychiatrists are beginning to report signs of distress among patients worried about the consequences.

Six clinicians interviewed by Reuters say the coronavirus has been the prime focus of virtually all recent therapy sessions.

Chicagoan Mike Wisler was prescribed a sedative to help him sleep when the financial and emotional impact of the pandemic hit the 50-year-old bartender. “My mind won’t shut off,” Wisler said. “As soon as I wake up, it’s like, ‘How am I going to get by this month?’”

The Trump administration announced moves to give relief to workers and students.

The U.S. government was moving its tax filing day to July 15 from April 15, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said. The administration temporarily suspended interest and payments on federal student loans for at least the next 60 days.

Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment benefits program, part of the safety net for the labor market, is about to face its biggest test in more than a decade.

More than 1.5 million applications could be filed this week, economists said, as people who work for restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses suddenly find themselves out of work.