New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is taking more steps to reduce human density in the workplace in light of the rapidly spreading coronavirus. He now says just 25% of employees can come into the office, 75% of workers must stay home.
“We’re reducing it again except for essential services,” said Cuomo, who said he is asking all businesses to voluntarily have all employees work from home.
The Governor says the steps are necessary to continue to try to flatten the curve and help prevent overwhelming the hospitals in the coming weeks.
Cuomo also wants to waive mortgage payments and bank overdraft charges for the next 90 days, if a person can demonstrate financial hardship.
“Waiving these payments will not have a negative effect on your credit report,” said Cuomo. “We’re not exempting people from the mortgage payments, we’re just adjusting the mortgage to include those payments on the back end.”
All foreclosure proceedings will be temporarily suspended. The Governor will also ask banks to waive overdraft fees for debit and credit cards for the next three months.
The Governor also addressed the personal strain and disruption the crisis is placing on everyone. He was joined by his daughter, Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, who is in her senior year of college, which she will now be missing.
“She was deprived of the last year and the last few months of college which I am sure were a very intense study period,” the Governor joked, as his daughter smiled.
Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo also cancelled a planned spring break trip, and the Governor says he hopes it’s because she learned a lesson he tried to teach her when she was growing up.
“What is the one line I used to say?" Cuomo asked his daughter.
"Risk, reward," Michaela Cuomo answered.
Cuomo says young people who are continuing to party on Florida beaches, as has been featured on social media, are not following that principle and are being reckless and irresponsible.
The Governor says the family will hold a graduation party for his daughter at some later date when this is all over.
