Politics & Government
NY's Coronavirus State Of Emergency To Be Lifted Thursday
"The emergency is over," Gov. Andrew Cuomo says. He also signed legislation so NY is better prepared for next pandemic, and honored heroes.
LONG ISLAND, NY — "The emergency is over." So said NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Wednesday as he announced that, as of Thursday, New York's state of emergency will officially be lifted; the order will not be renewed after it expires.
Cuomo first announced the state of emergency of March 3, 2020; the state of emergency allowed the governor to procure resources and funding to address the COVID-19 outbreak.
Cuomo credited the efforts of essential workers and all New Yorkers for their work to bring the positivity rate down and the vaccination rate up to 70 percent, the number at which coronavirus restriction mandates were lifted statewide.
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"It's a new chapter but the emergency is over," Cuomo said. He said there is still a need to vaccinate individuals, especially young people, and to "stay vigilant" as other mutations of the virus, including the Delta variant, emerge.
With the lifting of the emergency order, utility shut-off protections and "booze-to-go" options for eateries will also cease.
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He also warned that a future pandemic is inevitable. "It will happen again and we have to be prepared," he said.
Cuomo announced a new "Circle of Heroes" monument that will be created in Battery Park City; the design includes 19 maple trees around an eternal flame, honoring the essential and front line workers who showed up despite the dangers during the pandemic, as well as those lost.
"We are eternally grateful for what they did," he said.
Cuomo also announced $25 million in childcare scholarships to essential workers — and signed into law a "Safe Staffing" bill that is aimed at improving the quality of the healthcare system so the state is more adequately prepared in the event of the next crisis.
Hospitals will be asked to design plans by January 1 and include how many staffers are needed to provide direct care and to keep nurses, doctors, and administrators safe; after Jan. 1, the Department of Health will "police and regulate the plan" and penalize those in violation, he said.
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