In his first press conference since a sexual harassment scandal engulfed his administration, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York would ease restrictions on residential and social gatherings later this month and allow more people to enter art venues. and entertainment.
The loosened rules, announced with the approach of New York a year since Cuomo issued the first closing orders that interrupted social and economic activity, mark a step forward in the process of reopening the state.
But the announcement was overshadowed by questions about the charges against Cuomo. Since last Wednesday, Cuomo, 63, has been accused of sexually harassing two former aides and making unwanted advances in a marriage to a third woman. He has also faced a torrent of criticism in recent weeks about how his government dealt with asylums during the pandemic.
At the news conference – the first time the governor responded to questions from reporters since a coronavirus briefing on February 22 – Cuomo acknowledged that he did not intentionally “act in a way that made people uncomfortable” and said he “was sorry for anything.” pain that I caused anyone. ”
Still, he said several times that he “never touched anyone inappropriately”, as two women described it, and focused mainly on the intent of his actions.
Cuomo has been silent for the past few days, even when Monday marked the anniversary of the state’s first confirmed coronavirus case, a crisis that has put Cuomo and his daily reports in the national spotlight.
On Tuesday, the Democratic-led state chamber moved to add limits and oversight to the powers of Cuomo’s pandemic era, although he maintains the ability to issue executive orders that are considered crucial to the state’s response to the coronavirus.
These orders include the loosened limits that Cuomo announced at his news conference on Wednesday.
From March 22, New York will increase the maximum capacity for outdoor meetings in private residences from 10 to 25 people, although indoor meetings remain limited to 10 people. The limits for social gatherings in public spaces will be raised to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors 50 to both. Masks and social detachment will continue to be necessary.
The state will also begin allowing events at sports, arts and entertainment venues with fewer than 10,000 seats starting April 2, after allowing events at larger venues last week.
Smaller spaces may reopen with 33% of capacity, with a limit of 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. Locations that require participants to provide proof of a negative coronavirus PCR test can increase their capacity for 150 indoor and 500 outdoor environments.
Several venues immediately said they would start performing live, which, with a handful of limited exceptions, has not been in New York since Broadway closed on March 12.
On Wednesday, the statewide positive test rate for an average of seven days was 3.18%, said Cuomo, compared to a 7.94% rise on January 4, when cases increased after travel and holidays.
But New York, along with New Jersey, has added new cases of coronavirus at the highest rates in the country in the past week: both reported 38 new cases per 100,000 people. (The country as a whole has an average of 20 per 100,000 inhabitants.) And New York City is adding cases at a per capita rate almost three times that of Los Angeles County.
The governor asked residents to continue to follow the guidelines on facial coverage and social detachment.
“In my opinion, some states are going too far, too fast,” said Cuomo. “And that is a danger because Covid is still a risk. And you relax these restrictions too much, you will see the beast rise again. “