Mayor de Blasio said Friday the city’s coronavirus tally remained at 95, with no new cases overnight, as he insisted the Big Apple was not shutting down.
“New Yorkers don’t scare easily,” de Blasio on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.”
Closing all public schools remained off the table, according to de Blasio, who said it is a “very slippery slope” because he doesn’t want to interrupt kids’ education or leave poor students without access to meals. The vast majority of schools remain open.
Two public schools on Staten Island closed Friday when a student who attends both locations tested positive for the coronavirus.
De Blasio said he’s optimistic that the federal government will approve automated testing following his conversation with the Secretary Alex Azar, head of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Thursday night.
“I am more hopeful that the authorization for the automated testing is coming,” he said. Testing will still be limited to high risk patients, he added.
The mayor blasted rumors, after he declared a state of emergency for the city Thursday, including one that all of Manhattan was quarantined.
“That was a lie. That was false,” de Blasio said.
He urged New Yorkers to call 311, visit Nyc.gov/coronavirus or text COVID to 692 692 for factual updates from the city.
