NEW YORK — As America struggles to contain the coronavirus, the tri-state area has managed to maintain its low numbers.
But local officials warned residents on Monday if they let their guard down, cases could rise once again.
The New York State Liquor Authority has continued to crack down on establishments not following coronavirus-related health and safety rules.
“There have been 40 establishments that already had their licenses suspended; 10 since Friday,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
The Ludlow Street gastropub Set L.E.S. was shut down on Friday.
“All the time, nobody had masks there. It was crowded like a party,” said Adam Velez, who works nearby.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, urged teens and young adults to stop partying.
“This is among us folks. Any of us who thinks they can put their feet up and relax and let this take its course, is not paying attention,” Murphy said.
As local lawmakers work to make things safe, they can only watch as coronavirus cases skyrocket in other parts of the country.
“We won’t be out of the woods totally on COVID until COVID is contained all across the country,” Cuomo said.
The federation of state Public Interest Research Groups recently released a letter urging the country’s decision makers to “shut it down, start over, do it right.”
More than 150 U.S. medical experts, scientists, teachers and nurses signed the letter. It says people should be staying home and when they are out, masks should be mandatory.
“Right now we are on a path to lose more than 200,000 American lives by Nov. 1,” the letter reads.
The group urged states with rising cases to take drastic measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.
