Trump threatens to quarantine New York
DONALD TRUMP sowed confusion last night as he suggested he may impose a two-week quarantine and travel ban on New York, the centre of America’s coronavirus crisis.
The president said he would “rather not do it”, but he was “thinking about” the move, which could also include nearby areas in New Jersey and Connecticut. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, appeared to be blindsided by the comments, saying he did not know what Mr Trump meant but “I don’t like the sound of it”.
In remarks to reporters as he left the White House, Mr Trump said: “Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it’s a hotspot. New York, New Jersey, maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut, quarantined.
“I’m thinking about that right now. We might not have to do it, but there’s a possibility that some time today we’ll do a quarantine – short-term, two weeks – on New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut.”
The president added: “Restrict travel. Because they’re having problems down in Florida. A lot of New Yorkers are going down. We don’t want that. Heavily infected. This would be an enforceable quarantine. And, you know, I’d rather not do it, but we may need it.”
Mr Trump said he did not want to close the New York subway or use the National Guard, and said he would speak later with Mr Cuomo. The president made his comments as he left the White House to visit a military hospital ship, which is to be sent to New York.
In response, Mr Cuomo said he wanted to wait and see precisely what Mr Trump meant by the New York quarantine idea.
“I don’t even know what that means, I don’t know how that could be legally enforceable,” Mr Cuomo said. “And, from a medical point of view, I don’t know what you’d be accomplishing. But I can tell you I don’t like the sound of it. Not even understanding what it is, I don’t even like the sound of it. Mandatory quarantine is a scary concept.”
The state of New York now has over 52,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including nearly 30,000 in New York City. There have been over 700 deaths in the state. Dr Emad Youssef, at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, said: “Hospitals look like a war zone.”
Meanwhile, New York residents who have fled to Rhode Island are already being hunted down by the National Guard. Rhode Island, the smallest state test positive. Pictures online of thousands of urns in Wuhan have cast a further pall over the apparent lack of new infections, especially as the official death toll stands around 3,300.
But none of this has prevented the government from allowing shops, restaurants, schools, offices and factories to open their doors again.
Major tourist attractions are also beginning to accept visitors. Beijing Zoo unlocked its gates on Wednesday, capping entry at 30 per cent capacity to ensure visitors can maintain a comfortable distance from each other.
Families flowed into the zoo on Friday beneath blue skies, eager for a bit of sun after months of isolation.
About two dozen people gathered at the panda pen as one bear clambered over, putting its paws against the glass in the US, decided to send reservist soldiers door-to-door looking for them. National Guard members have also been stationed at the state’s airports, train stations, bus stops and at road checkpoints.
Any New York residents discovered will be ordered into 14-day quarantine. If they do not comply, they will be fined up to $500 (£400), and could ultimately face up to 90 days in prison.
Rhode Island is 180 miles from New York City and many wealthy citydwellers have holiday homes there.
‘Today is the first day we left our housing compound. We feel so happy – we’ve been home for so long’