Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a new mandate on Wednesday: no more than 50 percent of a company's workforce can leave home.

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The continued goal for Cuomo and others is to "flatten the curve" in New York. Cuomo on Tuesday noted he took drastic action on Monday, by closing all restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in the state, but noted more "dramatic steps" will likely need to be taken.

On Wednesday, Cuomo once again asked all businesses to have people work from home. He then announced a new executive order, no business in New York can have more than 50 percent of employees working away from home.

"That is a mandatory requirement. I'm doing that by an executive order and that is statewide," Cuomo said during his press briefing Wednesday morning.

The new rule doesn't apply to essential services like supermarkets, pharmacies, medical facilities and gas stations. Cuomo said his team needs to investigate if the media is considered an "essential service."

"There’s never been a more important time for New Yorkers to receive accurate, real time information & the role of the media has never been more essential. For that reason media organizations will be exempted from the 50% work reduction order," Cuomo later said in a tweet regarding if the media is considered essential.

The governor also announced a federal partnership with President Donald Trump is key. Cuomo noted the two are currently on the same page when it comes to fighting the coronavirus "war."

Cuomo said the state must increase the current hospital capacity and identify new hospital beds. Some of the new hospital beds will come in the form of a floating hospital. The USNS Comfort, which has about 1,000 rooms is heading to New York City, Cuomo said.

Cuomo also said the state must find a way to create 55,000-110,000 hospital beds and find new health professionals as reserve staff. If you are a recently retired health professional and can help you can CLICK HERE for more information.

Pennsylvania is joining the state collation with New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that closed restaurants and bars except for takeout and delivery & closed all gyms, casinos and movie theaters, Cuomo also announced.

Cuomo also announced over 1,000 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 2,382 confirmed cases. He announced 158 new confirmed cases in Westchester County, eight new cases in Rockland County, four news cases in Dutchess County and 17 new cases in Orange County.

 

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