New York Governor Warns Of State Closures After Large Crowds Of Young People Over Weekend

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that he will reclose the state if young people continue to congregate at bars and restaurants.

Cuomo said he received multiple reports of large crowds and mask violations over the weekend in the New York City area just days after he announced that he would begin enforcing regulations for bars and restaurants that violate social distancing policies.

“We will have to roll back the bar and restaurant opening if the congregations continue if the local governments don’t stop it, that is what is going to happen,” Cuomo said at a Monday press conference.

Cuomo added that local police departments and governments “are not doing their job” in enforcing social-distancing requirements.

“The police department is not there to inform them of mask compliance. Police departments have to enforce the law. That is the only line between anarchy and civilization. They have to enforce the law, and they’re not,” he said.

New York City has entered phase four of the state’s reopening plans, which allows for some more outdoor activities but limits indoor dining and malls from reopening.

New York has reported over 406,800 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with over 32,400 deaths as of Monday afternoon, according to John Hopkins University.