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New York residents must now wear face coverings in public after an Executive Order signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The governor announced he would be signing the Executive Order with a statement on Wednesday, April 15.
New York has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States with more than 202,000 confirmed cases in the state and nearly 11,000 deaths.
Face coverings will be required in public situations where residents are unable to practice proper social distancing like the use of public transit.
“I am issuing an Executive Order today that all people MUST wear a mask or face-covering in public in situations where social distancing is not possible,” Cuomo announced. “For example, if you are riding on public transit where it is impossible to maintain social distancing, or walking on a busy sidewalk, you must wear a face-covering like a bandana or a mask.”
For example, if you are riding on public transit where it is impossible to maintain social distancing, or walking on a busy sidewalk, you must wear a face covering like a bandana or a mask.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 15, 2020
The coronavirus mainly comes from animals and a majority of those who were infected early either worked at or frequently visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, according to The Guardian. The virus is similar to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).
The Wuhan coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through “droplet transmission.” That means an infected person can pass the virus by sneezing or coughing on another person as well as by direct contact.
While a majority of the cases have been detected in the United States and China — with more than 26,000 deaths in the United States — it has now reached many countries around the world. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.