Cuomo, urging people to wear masks, presses data showing front-line workers are at a lower risk for COVID-19

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Wednesday that people who work jobs where a face mask is necessary have shown lower rates of coronavirus infection. 

According to data produced by the state, nurses, transit workers, law enforcement and other essential employees have up to half the infection rate of the general population in New York City. 

“It’s amazing how effective that mask actually is,” Cuomo said at his daily press briefing. “Don’t take my word for it — I’m not a doctor, I’m not a public health expert. Again, look at the facts. What shocks me … how do front-line workers have a lower infection rate than the general population?”

NY Gov. Cuomo says nurses and doctors, transit workers and police officers have a lower infection rate than the general population because they’re wearing masks: “Those surgical masks work” https://t.co/zhkiZNV8sL pic.twitter.com/htiA5mKQ7M

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 20, 2020

The governor announced that the state is launching a public service campaign urging New Yorkers to wear masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“It seems like a simple thing, wearing a mask,” Cuomo said. “And it’s apparently so simple that people think it’s of no consequence. It happens to be of tremendous consequence.”

Two weeks ago, Albany asked New Yorkers to create their own 30-second ad about wearing masks, and the winner chosen by the state will be the ad that runs. Five finalists were announced at Cuomo’s Wednesday press conference, and people can vote for their favorite on the state government’s website.

As of Wednesday, New York has reported 353,000 cases and 22,843 deaths, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

Cuomo said that hospitalizations continue to decline, a positive sign after New York emerged as the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.