Mr. Azzopardi added that the governor’s office expects most New Yorkers to comply with the order, as they had previous sanctions. He said comprehensive compliance rather than enforcement is the key to making any state rules effective.
“I think New Yorkers get the message,” he said. “That’s common sense.”
Still, Albany County Sheriff Apple Pal said he’s concerned that the growing reaction among state sheriffs could prompt residents to push for more epidemic rules and regulations.
“I would have liked to have said nothing,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with people being afraid of the police coming to your house if it keeps you from having people at the Super Spreader event.”
In New York City, officials also said they were counting residents to comply with the cap on private gatherings. “When it comes to individual families, we’re not going to enforce family reunions,” Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference. “We’ll do it at the big gathering.”
Commissioner of Police, Dermot f. Shea, in a television interview, said the police department was “not thinking of breaking the Thanksgiving celebration.” (The department has not taken the lead in enforcing virus-related restrictions in the city since May, following allegations of racial bias in implementation.)
The city’s sheriff, Joseph Fusito, said his office fees would be more focused on large-scale events and businesses.
On Long Island, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a statement that it would enforce the governor’s sanctions. County executive Steve Bello said there would be extra police patrolling on the holiday.
“Publicly, they alert the police to places where large gatherings take place,” Mr. Ballon, a Democrat, said. “And we’ll answer.”
Jeffrey C. Maze contributed to the report.
