New York City’s COVID-19 resurgence prompts shutdown
De Blasio wants to stop the reopening of schools and non-essential businesses for about two to four weeks
Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to impose a new shutdown in nine New York City neighborhoods due to a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
De Blasio said on Sunday he wanted to “rewind” the reopening of schools and non-essential businesses for about two to four weeks in areas of Brooklyn and Queens.
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“We’re having an extraordinary problem — something we haven’t seen since spring,” De Blasio said, according to The Daily Mail.
“Today, unfortunately, is not a day for celebration. Today is a more difficult day.”
The nine neighborhoods in question, one of which has a high population of Black people, have seen a positivity rate of more than three percent in the last seven days.
Edgemere in Far Rockaway, Queens has seen an increase of nearly 6%.
However, predominately white and Asian communities have been the most affected.
The mayor also said he is paying close attention to 11 more neighborhoods, saying their rates are also troubling. De Blasio says he will implement a shutdown in those areas if need be.
The reopening of the city started in June, and the decision to shutdown the city would have to be approved by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who the mayor butts heads with on critical decisions.
“This can only happen with state approval,” the mayor said. “We understand this is unchartered territory.”
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A potential shut down would affect both private and public schools, affecting the education of thousands of children who returned to their classrooms, The Daily Mail reported.
The suspension would also affect in-person dining in those areas, some of which resumed their normal business operations on October 1, granted they comply with mandates that dictate 25% capacity.
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