Mayor: New Yorkers should prepare for possible shelter-in-place order

Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should prepare for a possible shelter-in-place order. The mayor says a decision will be made within the next 48 hours.

News 12 Staff

Mar 17, 2020, 4:06 PM

Updated 1,740 days ago

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Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should prepare for a possible shelter-in-place order. The mayor says a decision will be made within the next 48 hours. 
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office immediately pushed back on the idea of a shelter-in-place order for the city, reiterating that it cannot be done without the state's permission and that "there is no consideration" of issuing one.
The mayor confirmed a total of 814 cases of the coronavirus in New York City.
He said divided by boroughs there are 248 confirmed cases in Queens, 277 in Manhattan, 157 in Brooklyn, 96 in the Bronx and 36 in Staten Island.
He says NYC Health + Hospitals will have the capacity to test 5,000 people per day in the next coming days. Tests will be processed rapidly in one to two days, with a focus on the most vulnerable, those already hospitalized and the elderly. 
An executive order was also signed Tuesday to ban ride-sharing pooling in Ubers and Lyfts. The order limits riding to one person per car in exception to married couples and families who live together. 
The mayor's office also announced that alternate side parking is suspended March 18 through at least March 24.
The mayor also called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to approve military activation to help New York City and all cities across the U.S. in need. 
He says enrichment centers will be open next week for children of essential workers. He says they will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner to kids. 
The mayor says 9,000 people are a part of NYC Voluntary Medical Reserve and they are being mobilized. 
An alert will be sent out Tuesday night to encourage New Yorkers to sign up for COVID-19 updates.
The mayor's office also announced that alternate side parking is suspended March 18 through at least March 24.
 
 
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AP wire contributed to this report.