New York Governor and Mayor Urge Preparedness for Economic Activity Suspension

Despite Vaccine Distribution, 'Last Resort' Considered to Prepare for COVID-19 Spread
US COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 300,000

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] There has been a warning that economic activity in New York City, USA, could be suspended again due to the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to The New York Times and others, on the 14th (local time), Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York, said that in addition to the indoor dining suspension order that started that day, additional measures could be considered.

In an interview with CNN, Mayor de Blasio warned, "There is a possibility of a complete shutdown within a few weeks."

At a press conference that day, Mayor de Blasio also emphasized, "We must be mentally and practically prepared for that possibility (shutdown)."

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, also said at a press conference that day, "If the (COVID-19) trajectory does not change, we have to worry about a shutdown."

Governor Cuomo predicted, "Economic activity suspension could occur in areas where hospital bed occupancy reaches 90% within three weeks."

The remarks from the two came right after the first COVID-19 vaccination in the US was administered in New York City. This is interpreted as an acknowledgment that the end of COVID-19 is unlikely to come early despite the start of vaccinations.

New York City successfully controlled COVID-19 through shutdown measures that suspended economic activities when the outbreak occurred last March, but recently, the number of infections has surged, causing a second wave of spread.

On that day, the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths in the US surpassed 300,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.