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Cuomo issues executive order authorizing businesses to deny entry to individuals not wearing masks or face-coverings

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Thu, May 28th 2020 09:45 pm

Partners with Rosie Perez & Chris Rock to foster communication, education on importance of wearing a mask, testing & social distancing

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday issued an executive order authorizing businesses to deny entry to individuals who do not wear masks or face-coverings. The mandate builds on the state's ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers and slow the spread.

"I've been working to communicate this message about masks and how effective they are. They are deceptively effective; they are amazingly effective. And we've made them mandatory in public settings, public transportation, etc.," Cuomo said. "But when we're talking about reopening stores and places of business, we're giving the store owners the right to say, ‘If you're not wearing a mask, you can't come in.’ That store owner has the right to protect themselves. That store owner has a right to protect the other patrons in that store. You don't want to wear a mask, fine. But you don't then have a right to then go into that store if that store owner doesn't want you to."

•Cuomo also announced a partnership with Rosie Perez and Chris Rock, who will help New York build communication and education on the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing and the availability of testing and health care in the state.

•He said the state will distribute 1 million masks to New York City's hardest-hit neighborhoods today. The state has already distributed more than 8 million masks across NYC, including to NYCHA developments, food banks, churches and homeless shelters. New York maintains a comprehensive testing network throughout the state, including more than 225 sites in New York City. New York's extensive testing – the state currently conducts tens of thousands of tests per day – now allows the government to pinpoint the hardest-hit neighborhoods for additional supplies and other aid.

•The governor announced the MTA will pilot the use of proven UV light technology to kill COVID-19 in subway cars and crew facilities. The MTA currently cleans and disinfects trains every day.

•Finally, Cuomo confirmed 1,768 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the confirmed statewide total to 366,733.

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