Cuomo extends NY coronavirus shutdown to May 15 as deaths pass 12,000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday extended his statewide shutdown of non-essential functions to May 15, as coronavirus hospitalizations continued to level off — but over 600 new deaths were reported.

“New York PAUSE has worked,” said Cuomo of the lockdown during an Albany press briefing. “That’s how we control the beast.

“However, we’re not there yet.”

In order to prevent the disease from mounting a comeback, the governor extended the policy for another month, a decision that he said was made in consultation with other regional states New York has allied with to plan an eventual economic revival.

“I don’t want to project beyond that period,” he said. “One month is a long time. People need certainty and clarity so they can plan.”

Cuomo announced the extension as another 606 New Yorkers succumbed to the bug in the 24-hour period ending midnight Thursday, raising the overall death toll to 12,192.

“This is still continuing at a really tragic, tragic rate,” said Cuomo of the fatalities.

Total hospitalizations, however, remained effectively flat, dipping slightly from 18,335 on Tuesday to 17,735 on Wednesday, despite 1,996 new daily hospitalizations.

Meanwhile Thursday, Cuomo expanded his order mandating that New Yorkers wear masks or other face coverings when entering spaces in which social distancing proves difficult to include both drivers and passengers in for-hire vehicles.

“Is this inconvenient? Yes,” admitted Cuomo of the order, which takes effect at 8 p.m. Friday. “This is a precaution for everyone that I think balances individual liberties with a social conscience.”