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Cuomo orders businesses to keep at least half of employees at home

March 18, 2020 Alex Williamson
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Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced that businesses across the state will only be allowed to have 50 percent of their workforce onsite in New York’s latest effort to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

So far in New York City, 1,339 people have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 525 confirmed cases from yesterday’s 814.

Across the state, 2,382 people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus as of Wednesday morning.

The new mandatory requirement applies to all businesses not deemed essential by the state. The governor listed food delivery, pharmacies, health care, shipping and supplies as essential businesses that would be exempt.

“I understand that this is a burden to business. I get it,” Cuomo said at a Wednesday press briefing. “I understand the impact on the economy. But in truth we’re past that point as a nation. There is going to be an impact on the economy … and we’re going to have to deal with that crisis, but let’s deal with one crisis at a time and let’s deal with the crisis at hand, and that is a public health crisis.”

It’s not yet clear when the order will go into effect, how it will be enforced or the complete list of businesses that will be exempt. Check this article for updates.

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