New York State shutdown extended till May 15

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday extended the state's shutdown till May 15 even as the state, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, continued to see a drop in hospitalisations and ICU admissions and recorded the lowest deaths in 10 days.

The New York Pause, which had required schools and nonessential businesses to stay closed through April 29, has now been extended till May 15.

New York on PAUSE will be extended in coordination with other states to May 15. Non-essential workers must continue to stay home. Social distancing rules remain in place. We must stay the course, Cuomo said in his daily press briefing on coronavirus.

Cuomo said the state continues to make progress in flattening the infection curve, with drops in hospitalizations, ICU admissions and intubations, which the Governor described as good news.

However, the state continues to record high death rates and 606 people died on April 15, which was the lowest figure in 10 days.

The worst news is 600 people died yesterday from the disease. That is still continuing at a really tragic, tragic rate, he said, adding that of the total deaths, 577 passed away in hospitals and 29 in nursing homes.

Cuomo said the state has been closely watching the situation in nursing homes, the ground zero in the pandemic.

The Governor said the infection rate in the state would have to lower considerably before he could move to ease restrictions, which is why he was extending the shutdown till May 15.

We have to continue doing what we're doing. I'd like to see that infection rate get down even more. The New York Pause policies, the close-down policies, will be extended in coordination with other states to May 15, Cuomo said.

So, one month, we'll continue the close-down policies. What happens after then? I don't know. We will see what the data shows, Cuomo said. I don't want to project beyond that period.

He said the state's strategy for reopening New York and bringing people out of their home at the appropriate time would include controlling the rate of infection, strengthening the healthcare system, rapid and intense testing, and a phased return.

Cuomo also issued an executive order requiring all people in New York to wear masks or face coverings in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transportation, to stop the spread of coronavirus as the state sees a flattening of the infection curve. The order goes into effect from April 17.

If you're going to be in public, and you cannot maintain social distancing, then have a mask and put the mask on when you're not in socially distant places.You don't have a right to infect me.

"If you are going to be in a situation in public where you may come into contact with other people in a situation that is not socially distanced, you must have a mask or a cloth covering nose and mouth, Cuomo said at his daily press briefing on the pandemic on Wednesday.

New York, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, reported 11,571 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 213,779 confirmed cases. As of Wednesday evening 11,586 people had died.

Total hospitalizations, ICU admissions and intubations are coming down in the state, which Cuomo said is good news and signs that the COVID-19 curve is flattening in New York.