After a night of looting and destruction which left to cops attacked in the Bronx hospitalized Mayor de Blasio moved up the curfew to 8PM extended through June 7 and promised to take action against the “outsiders,” “gang members” and “common criminals” he said were responsible for looting and violence in Manhattan and the Bronx on Monday night.
The Mayor lashed out against the idea of bringing the National Guard in. Governor Cuomo said the police did not do their jobs and last night was a “disgrace”. Cuomo pointed out bluntly that the National Guard was waiting and de Blasio refused to authorize it.
“The N.Y.P.D. and the mayor did not do their job last night,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It was rampant looting across the city last night that they did not stop.”
“Look at the videos — it was a disgrace,” the governor said, adding that Mr. de Blasio “underestimates the scope of the problem” in controlling the nightly protests that have been marred by looting and violent outbursts from participants and police officers alike.
The number of coronavirus patients admitted to hospitals on Monday was at “an all-time low,” at 154, he said, far below the peak of about 3,200.
“Congratulations to the people of the State of New York,” he said. “Look at what you did. Look at the progress you made. God bless you.”
The daily death toll due to the coronavirus, 58, was “about as low as we have had,” he said, and compared to a peak of nearly 800 a day in early April.
“Today is day 94 of the COVID-19 pandemic and if you look at the progress we have made in New York, it’s breathtaking how far and how fast we’ve come,” Governor Cuomo said. “We have more good news today – the number of hospitalizations is down, the number of new COVID cases walking in the door is at an all-time low and the number of deaths is just about as low as we have seen it. As the numbers continue to decline, Western New York is now ready to begin phase two of reopening, and the Capital Region remains on track to open for phase two tomorrow.”
Cuomo spent most of his briefing Tuesday talking about the demonstrations, and urged protesters to avoid further spread of the coronavirus as they return to the streets en masse.Newsday reported.
“Keep in mind during this moment when you are going out to protest, we are still in the middle of the COVID pandemic,” he said. “We are going to reopen New York City this coming Monday. Yes, protest; yes, express your outrage. But be responsible, because the last thing we want to do is see a spike in the number of COVID cases.”
