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NY, NJ, CT make pact on business closures

Mar 16, 2020 4:45 pm
Businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will be closed as a result of the agreement reached by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. Under that pact, gyms, movie theaters and casinos will close as of 8 p.m., March 16. Bars and restaurants will be open for takeout and delivery only. And gatherings of more than 50 will be banned. “We have agreed to a common set of rules that will pertain in all of our states, so don’t even think about going to a neighboring state,” said Cuomo. In his daily briefing, Cuomo said as of Mon., Mar. 16, New York now has 950 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 221 of those cases were newly diagnosed. Locally, Albany County now has 12 cases; Dutchess, 10; Greene, 2; and Ulster, 7. Cuomo said testing statewide is continuing to increase. The state will soon open new drive-through facilities on Long Island, Staten Island and in Rockland County. And to help parents manage the COVID-19 school shutdown, the state is now waiving park fees for all state, local and county parks.