Cuomo orders businesses to limit number of employees in workplaces

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Wednesday announced an executive order directing businesses to limit the number of employees who show up to their workplaces, mandating that no more than 50 percent of employees report to work outside their homes.

Cuomo said he understands “the impact on the economy, but in truth we’re past that point as a nation. There’s going to be an impact on the economy. Not just here in New York, but across the country.”

The governor said that there are some exemptions to the mandate, such as food delivery and food services, pharmacies, shipping companies and health care organizations.

“Society has to function,” he said. “People stay at home, people still need to be able to order food, be able to shop, so you have to keep those essential services running.”

Cuomo also announced that the state would receive additional federal help to increase the number of hospital beds after a conversation with President Trump.

The state is prioritizing increasing hospital beds and ICU capacity as the current number of approximately 53,000 is not enough to meet the height of the demand.

Cuomo said on Tuesday that the virus is estimated to peak in 45 days.

The Army Corps of Engineers will begin construction of temporary hospitals to house more sick patients as cases of COVID-19 are growing in the state.

The state reported 2,480 cases of the virus on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. 

Drive-thru testing began Tuesday in a parking lot at Jones Beach for hundreds of people with scheduled appointments.