On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo live-streamed his announcement to reopen the state beginning May 19, including an extreme accusation against New Yorkers who donāt take the vaccine.
The Democrat said during the live event, āMaybe you go home and kiss your grandmother and wind up killing your grandmother.ā
The comment quickly garnered pushback across social media.
Cuomo also said during the event that social distancing will remain in place, following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionās guidance, according to WKBW-TV.
Other changes will include the stateās bar and restaurant curfew being lifted May 17 for outdoor dining and May 31 for indoor dining.
The New York COVID-19 rule requiring a food purchase with alcohol has already been suspended.
āIt is time to begin removing certain restrictions and regulations that are no longer necessary, so we can safely reopen and rebuild our stateās economy,ā New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, said last week, WABC-TV reported.
In addition, New York City announced Monday its plans to restart 24-hour subway service.
āThe city that never sleeps is slowlyā but surely ā living up to its name again and waking up from the COVID-19 pandemic, but so should the subway system, and ASAP,ā Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference Sunday, according to The Associated Press.
Large stadiums are permitted to return to 33 percent capacity starting May 19.
āLarge indoor and outdoor venues will go to 30% and 33% max capacity that day. Proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test will still be required in New York. Cuomo said the three tri-states are working to coordinate joint COVID protocol for those big arena spaces going forward,ā WNBC-TV reported.
Cuomoās comments come as he faces multiple scandals as governor. The New York leader is currently under investigation for alleged sexual harassment, as well as for allegedly underreporting COVID-19 nursing home deaths.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
