After announcing joint regional action to close casinos, gyms, and theaters along with neighboring states Connecticut and New Jersey, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday announced an uptick in the state's coronavirus cases and issued a spate of new rules.
Cuomo revealed that there are now 950 confirmed cases in New York with 158 hospitalizations and seven deaths and pleaded with the federal government to provide nationwide plans and guidance. Specifically, he asked for the deployment of the Army Corps of Engineers to work with states to build temporary medical facilities, like the ones seen in China as it struggled to contain its own coronavirus outbreak. Yesterday, Cuomo made that plea in an op-ed.
“I want federal guidance,” he said. “You can’t have one state taking action that is different from other states.”
Among the emergency regulations announced Monday are a mandatory reduction in local government staffing and the addition of new drive-through testing sites.
He announced that after success in New Rochelle, more drive-through sites will open on Long Island, Staten Island, and in Rockland County.
To help ease the virus’ spread, restaurants, bars, and wineries in the state will be barred from hosting dine-in guests. The State Liquor Authority will adjust its rules to allow eateries to operate takeout service. Cuomo said the measures are being enacted throughout the tri-state region to prevent individuals from heading to neighboring states if they are unhappy with their own state’s rules or closures.
As the state, and the nation, stays home in efforts to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, Cuomo made the assessment that he does not think the New York area can flatten the curve enough to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system
“I don’t think of a curve. I think of a wave. And a wave is going to break, and the wave is going to break on the hospital system,” he warned.
To combat what is likely to be dramatically increased pressure on the public health system, Cuomo asked local governments to immediately identify beds in available facilities. He called for 5,000 additional beds in NYC, 1,000 in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and 2,000 in Westchester County, where the New Rochelle cluster is located. Additionally, he said Department of Health regulations will be suspended to allow hospitals to add space and is considering banning non-critical elective surgeries.
“They don’t build extra ICU beds ‘just in case.’ They don’t build a wing of ICU beds that sit empty for 10 years on the off chance there’s going to be a public health emergency and you’re going to need them,” he declared. Without federal guidance and funds, the state plans to organize the National Guard, building unions, and private developers to convert facilities with “basic configuration that could be retrofitted” like dorms and former nursing homes.
For those who are not yet sick, Cuomo said he will waive state park fees to encourage spending time outside in less densely packed areas.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply. Third-quarter earnings fell to $1.4 billion, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Excluding charges, per share profit of 50 cents came in below analysts' estimate. Tesla shares fell 3.5% in after-hours trading. Musk said the company's robotaxi service, which is available in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, will roll out to as many as 10 other metro areas by the end of the year.
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.
