New Yorkers eager to take advantage of the warm weather were seen flocking to Central Park on April 19 despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
In temperatures reaching 61 degrees, people were seen walking around with several not following social distancing recommendations of being six feet apart. A few were also seen reclining on the lawns.
Noticeably absent were the face masks on many of the residents although authorities have warned that the coronavirus can spread through respiratory droplets that enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
The Manhattan tourist hotspot decidedly looked lively despite tourism having ceased due to the pandemic.
When it comes to the recorded infection rate, the US ranks the worst in the world.
On April 15, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an order that made wearing masks in close proximity mandatory. If they cannot stay at least six feet away from the nearest person, they must cover their mouth and nose. Even cloth coverings will suffice if no mask is available.
Cuomo hasn’t ruled out the use of civil penalties should there be widespread non-compliance but he doesn’t want to.
On April 18 alone, more than 500 people died from the disease.
With the infection rate on the decline, Cuomo said the state is likely on the other side of the curve.
Last month, hospitalizations spiraled out of control, requiring that a field hospital be set up on Central Park to relieve the load on overcrowded hospitals. Refrigerated trucks had also lined the park where dead bodies were temporarily stored when morgues became full.
Cuomo warned in his daily briefing, “We showed that we can control the beast and when you close down, you can actually slow that infection rate, but this is only halftime.”
In the meantime, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has called on people to report those who are disobeying social distancing guidelines. He said photos should be taken and texted to 311-692.
Other places in the world have similar reporting measures. In Dubai, UAE, for example, there is a police app that residents have been requested to use to report non-compliance with social distancing rules.
But critics have said that asking citizens to “snitch” on fellow citizens was “un-American.”
Cuomo also announced on April 19 that this week, a state-wide antibody testing survey was going to be launched to gauge the true scale of the pandemic.
Replaced!