Breaking: Statement from the Mayor Office

Breaking: Statement from the Mayor Office 

 Today I signed an executive order that gives the City power to enforce new rules requiring all restaurants, bars and cafes to shift to delivery and take-out only at 8pm tonight, and closing all movie theaters, small theaters, nightclubs and commercial gyms.

We're radically expanding our health care capacity to meet the coming crisis. We're bringing four facilities online to boost capacity by 1,200 new beds. Public hospitals are canceling elective surgeries and discharging patients that no longer require in-patient care to free up 7,000 more beds. More will follow. To EVERY health care worker in our city: active, retired, students — we need you right now. We need your experience and expertise to help protect the lives of our fellow New Yorkers. We are partnering with FEMA to create more drive through testing facilities across the five boroughs. These locations will be for priority patients only.

FEMA's efforts have been encouraging. But we STILL need help from the federal government. At the moment our supply chain is good but we need the federal government to ensure it stays that way. We need the Senate to pass a stimulus. People's lives and livelihoods are on the line.

NYC Public Schools will begin remote learning for students on Monday, March 23.

We'll also convert some school sites into enrichment centers for the children of essential employees like health care workers, transit workers and first responders. We cannot thank our schools staff enough. Educators, custodians, cafeteria workers and all school staff have stepped up to the challenge. Because of your good work, our children will get the food and education they deserve.

We've instituted a ban on price gouging on supplies needed in this crisis, including thermometers, sanitizing and baby wipes, paper towels, latex gloves, face masks, toilet paper and rubbing alcohol. Retailers will be fined for increase the cost of those items by 10% or more.

As of this hour we have 463 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York City. I'm sorry to say we have had 2 additional deaths since our last update, bringing the total in our city to 7. We grieve with their families & loved ones.

The actions we take now will affect the way millions of people live. But they’ll save lives. Social distancing, monitoring your health, helping our most vulnerable neighbors: this is EVERY New Yorker's responsibility. It's time to step up.

Like New Yorkers always do.