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Cuomo allowing drive-in graduation ceremonies

Thu, Jun 4th 2020 04:05 pm

Governor announces expanded COVID-19 testing criteria to include anyone who attended a protest across NYS

DFS will issue emergency regulation to accelerate resolution and payment of insurance claims to help New York businesses and consumers affected by looting

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced schools will be permitted to hold drive-in and drive-thru graduation ceremonies this year. The state will reexamine socially distanced outdoor commencements at a later time.

“The school year is coming to an end. I know a lot of graduates are disappointed,” Cuomo said. “We're going to allow drive-in and drive-thru student graduations. We're going to keep evaluating.”

He added, “Not to have the graduation is painful. I get it. As soon as we can do it, we will. If there's a way drive-ins or drive-thrus can be helpful, I hope that makes a difference in the meantime.”

•Cuomo announced the state is expanding COVID-19 testing criteria to include any individual who attended any of the recent protests across the state. He encouraged any individual who attended a protest to get a test. More information on where and how to get tested for COVID-19 is available at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov.

"Testing is the most immediate data we have on where we are in this pandemic, giving us a fast snapshot of how many people are being infected," Cuomo said. "Our numbers have been going down every day, but now we have tens of thousands of people who have been protesting statewide that could lead to new spread of the virus. We're going to open the testing facilities for all people who were at a protest statewide and encourage any individual who attended any protest to be responsible and get tested."

•The governor also announced the State Department of Financial Services will issue an emergency regulation to help businesses and consumers who suffered damage from looting and vandalism by requiring New York state-regulated insurance companies to expedite the resolution and payment of related insurance claims based on similar emergency relief applied in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.

Additional relief provided by the emergency regulation will include allowing policyholders to make immediate repairs to damaged property, if necessary, to protect health or safety; and to submit claims with reasonable proof of loss, including photos, so businesses don't have to wait for police reports to file a claim. The emergency regulation will also offer small businesses and consumers the option to resolve disputes through an impartial mediation process paid for by the applicable insurer.

•Cuomo said medical schools statewide will be allowed to reopen on June 22, following appropriate precautions, in order to safely prepare for and welcome new cohorts of medical students this summer and fall.

•Finally, the governor confirmed 1,048 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 375,133 confirmed cases.

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