New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference in the new Terminal B of La Guardia Airport, during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, New York, 10 June 2020.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
New York shopping malls will need high-quality air systems that can filter the coronavirus before they are allowed to reopen, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday.
“Any shopping center that opens in New York, large shopping malls, we will make it mandatory for them to have air filtration systems that can filter the Covid virus,” Cuomo said at a news conference.
According to a Cuomo presentation, high-efficiency air particulate filters, or HEPA filters, have been shown to help reduce the presence of Covid-19 in the air.
Scientists say that the coronavirus is spread mainly when you cough or sneeze, touch an infected object, or by person-to-person contact. Some epidemiologists say the virus also appears to spread through exhaled air when people speak or breathe, known as aerosols, according to Nature.
The coronavirus particle has a diameter of about .125 microns, he said, noting recent studies. HEPA filters are designed to filter out particles that are 0.01 micron or more.
The Lufthansa logo is visible through a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter). During a press tour, the operator of the Fraport airport and the Lufthansa airline explain their concept of hygiene in the current conditions of the crown.
Andreas Arnold | image alliance | fake pictures
New York has not yet allowed shopping centers to reopen in the state, Cuomo said. He said the state recommends that all companies and offices “explore the potential of their air conditioning filtration system.”
New Jersey allowed shopping malls to reopen Monday while following the same health precautions required of other stores but without advanced filtering systems, according to state guidelines.
Cuomo has allowed other companies to reopen without installing high-end filtration systems. Until now, indoor retail, with the exception of shopping malls, indoor and outdoor dining rooms, and some office spaces, have been reopened in different regions of the state with reduced capacity.
New York City is expected to begin its next reopening phase on July 6, which will allow for interior catering and personal care services such as nail salons, spas, massage parlors, and tattoo and piercing facilities with limited occupancy.
However, Cuomo said on Monday that he is concerned about the city’s reopening of previous reopens and has experienced a lack of compliance when it comes to social distancing and wearing masks, he said.
“You can see it in pictures, you can see it if you walk down the street, you can see the crowds in front of the bars, you can see the crowds in the corners, it’s undeniable,” said Cuomo.
Food indoors has been problematic in other states where cases are increasing, Cuomo said. Meanwhile, cookouts so far have worked well across the state, including New York City, he added.
Cuomo said the state is reviewing the data and talking to local business owners, but may decide to postpone dinner at restaurants. The state will provide a final decision before Wednesday, he said.
“This is a real problem. Our reopens have worked very well. We are not going backwards but forwards,” Cuomo said. “Many other states have had to back down.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo during a daily coronavirus briefing on June 29, 2020.
Source: New York State
To illustrate the state’s progress in suppressing the coronavirus outbreak, Cuomo appeared in front of a mountain sculpture depicting the curve of the outbreak, saying it was “the mountain New Yorkers have climbed,” reaching its peak in the first 42 days. On Sunday, the state reported that 853 people currently hospitalized with Covid-19, down from a peak of more than 18,800.
“Do you know what this is? This is the mountain,” Cuomo said as he stood in front of the green sculpture.
He previously called the state outbreak a mountain, referring to the shape of the recently reported Covid-19 cases in a graph. In early June, Cuomo said he was going to declare “Covid Mountain” as the highest mountain in New York State.
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