Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency as coronavirus cases continue to increase in NYC.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed that New York City now has 95 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 329 confirmed in the state.

The state of emergency allows drastic measures to be taken that are necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to the mayor.

Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people in New York, as of 5 p.m. Friday. Bars and restaurants will only be allowed 50% of their normal capacity.

MORE: NYC officials knock down train and subway closure rumors

However, those density rules do not apply to hospitals, schools, or mass transit.

The mayor says the pandemic could go on for months and that the recovery process will also take a while. He says the spread of the virus is having an impact on people's livelihoods.

He says support and relief will be made available to those who are affected while companies shut down and quarantine. Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo say they are tackling the public health emergency by taking these actions in efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

They are encouraging former nurses and doctors to reach out to their old workplace and offer to work as they are needed. The state is also looking to identify those who have trained as doctors and nurses in the military.

They also say the state of the city and state is changing day by day. Mayor Bill de Blasio says most people will be able to self-resolve and won't need medical attention. He says once the FDA approves a facility in the city that can test, the city should be able to do about 5,000 tests a day.

 

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