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More Than A Year After Pandemic's Start, Cuomo Declares State Of Disaster Emergency To End
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jun 23, 2021
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Don Pollard / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
By
Sophia Chang
Published Jun 23, 2021
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New York’s state of disaster emergency will end Thursday after more than 67 weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.
Cuomo declared the state of disaster emergency on March 7th, 2020, shortly after the first case was reported on March 1st, 2020 when a Manhattan woman was found to be infected with the coronavirus.
"New York went from one of the worst infection rates to the lowest infection rate in the country, and it was all because of the efforts of New Yorkers who were smart, united and did what they needed to do throughout this entire pandemic," Cuomo said in a statement Wednesday. "Now we're starting to write a new chapter for a post-COVID New York—the state disaster emergency is ending and we can focus on reimagining, rebuilding and renewing our state."
He added, "This doesn't mean COVID is gone, we still have to get more New Yorkers vaccinated, but we are getting back on track and starting to live life once again."
Federal guidelines set by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention will still apply, including “masks for unvaccinated individuals, as well as all riders on public transit and in certain settings, such as health care, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters. State and local government health departments will still be able to ensure mask rules and other health precautions are adhered to in those settings,” Cuomo’s office said.
The state of disaster emergency had enabled government agencies, local municipalities, hospitals, and businesses to temporarily suspend and modify laws—Cuomo said New York’s hospitals were enabled to add space and staffing, agencies were authorized to hold meetings virtually and deadlines extended. It also allowed the state liquor authority to permit bars and restaurants to deliver and sell to-go alcoholic drinks in sealed containers, but this "temporary pandemic-related privilege" will end Thursday as well.
The governor was also given unprecedented power during the state of disaster emergency, with state legislators allowing him to write his own laws, an authority typically reserved for a separate branch of government. Cuomo issued hundreds of executive orders and directives including mask mandates, banning indoor dining, and closing and then reopening hair salons.
Many of his actions contradicted Mayor Bill de Blasio’s policies, such as during the COVID-19 resurgence last fall. De Blasio wanted to close schools and small businesses according to zip code designations, but Cuomo issued his own plan based on color-coded zones that threw residents into confusion.
Cuomo defended his executive powers as necessary response to the pandemic. Still, the state legislature began limiting Cuomo’s emergency executive powers in March.
The state’s seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate was 0.36% Wednesday, marking the 26th consecutive day the rate has been at a record low, the governor said.
Six people died Tuesday, though none of the deaths were in the five boroughs. According to the CDC, an estimated 53,000 people died from COVID-19 in New York state since 2020.
Tagged
COVID-19
Governor Andrew Cuomo
new york
coronavirus
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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