Gov. Andrew Cuomo "strongly" advises all non-essential New York businesses to close.

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On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced all restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in New York State must close by Monday at 8 p.m. Cuomo made the announcement during a joint press conference with the governors of Connecticut and New Jersey. The governors also banned all gatherings of over 50 people to help slow the spread of coronavirus

Supermarkets, pharmacies, medical facilities and gas stations will stay open, officials said. Other businesses may remain open if there are fewer than 50 people working inside the business at a given time.

Later, Cuomo strongly advised only essential businesses and services remain open past 8 p.m on Monday.

“We strongly advise that only services and businesses that are essential stay open after 8 p.m.,” Cuomo said Monday. during a press conference. “We want people home, we want less density. This is not mandatory, but we strongly advise this.”

Cuomo also signed an executive order directing all schools in New York to close until at least April. He also said non-essential state workers will work from home, all local governments must reduce their workforce by at least 50 percent and New York State will waive all park fees in state, local and county parks.

New York continues to lead the country in known coronavirus cases. On Monday, Cuomo confirmed 950 confirmed cases in New York State. 17 percent of those infected are hospitalized, according to Cuomo. Seven New Yorkers have died from COVID-19, officials say.

There are now 220 confirmed cases in Westchester County, 16 in Rockland County, 11 in Orange County, 10 in Dutchess County, 7 in Ulster County and we learned yesterday of the first case from Sullivan County

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