With President Trump sending federal law enforcement into cities like Portland and Chicago as part of what he claims is an effort to fight disorder and crime, Governor Andrew Cuomo says that will not happen here in New York, at least not yet. 

Despite a rise in shootings, and concern about disorder and graffiti near a now-broken-up occupation by City Hall, Cuomo says he spoke to Trump this week and convinced him to hold off. 

What You Need To Know

  • Cuomo reiterates he told Trump no federal troops despite rise in crime

  • Cuomo says coronavirus test rate rising among young people to 13%, blames gatherings at bars

  • Administration says testing delays the fault of federal government

“I don’t believe it is an emergency that would justify a state emergency declaration or a federal emergency declaration," said Cuomo.

At his daily COVID briefing, the governor’s team was asked about reports of big delays in getting back test results. According to the administration, that’s not the case for the vast majority of tests in the state, although an inadequate ramp up of testing procedures nationwide has made it worse everywhere. 

“Over 70% of the testing, those aren't going to the labs where you are seeing longer delays," said adviser Gareth Rhodes. "For example, we saw 69,000 tests yesterday. More than 50,000 of those did not go to the labs that are seeing long delays. And of those 50,000, the average delay was about 2.6 days. The median is about two days.”

With great concern from advocates about the inmate population in state prisons, the governor says they conducted tests on the nearly 4,000 inmates over the age of 55 and found that less than 2% tested positive.

However, there is a growing concern about young people outside prison walls. People aged 21 to 40 are now testing positive at a 13% rate. Cuomo blames lack of social distancing at bars and restaurants. Cuomo made a Beastie Boys reference in his response. 

“This is not the time to fight for your right to party," said Cuomo. "I respect your right to party. I fully respect it. I would enshrine it into state law. You have the right to party. But let’s be smart about it.”

 

 

 

The numbers overall in the city look good. The positive testing rate was 1.3%, which is what it has been the last several days. There were 13 deaths statewide, still not where they want it to be but a vast intones from where it was in previous weeks.