Cuomo labels federal COVID-19 response the 'worst government blunder in modern history' and criticizes Texas and Florida - where cases are spiking - for not taking the pandemic seriously
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday slammed the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the 'worst government blunder in modern history' and said states like Florida and Texas were foolish to follow the advice coming from the Trump administration.
At a press conference where he called on New Yorkers to continue social distancing and wearing masks, he pointed to how the numbers had turned around in his state while others are growing elsewhere.
Experts predict there will be another 30,000 deaths in the US by the end of August. To date, more than 150,000 have died and there have been more than 4million cases.
Both Florida and Texas are seeing a rise in coronavirus cases and deaths, whereas New York's numbers have been holding steady for several weeks now after slow but significant decline since May.
Since the start of summer, there have been large gatherings of people on lakes, in boats and on beaches, despite advice from the CDC to avoid crowds.
There has been no national mandate to wear masks - something Cuomo called for - and from the beginning, states have been tasked with making their own decisions when it comes to containing the virus.
Cuomo also claimed the rest of the country was 'in denial' about what happened in New York City, the epicenter of the virus in April, and did not believe it would impact them in the same way.
New York's coronavirus numbers peaked in April and have been slowly declining since then
The number of cases across the US is currently spiking and another 30,000 deaths are predicted
'This was the worst government blunder in modern history. It was a mistake to deny the reality that happened in New York,' he said.
On Twitter, he went on: 'The national COVID response was a historic and colossal blunder by the federal government.
'Six months and this virus is still out of control around the country. Six months wasted,' he said.
It came as Dr. Deborah Brix, one of the members of the White House coronavirus task force, said there was 'extraordinary spread' across the country.
Cuomo fumed that it was 'entirely predictable'.
200 boats filled with people showed up for the 10th White Trash Bash in East Peoria, Illinois
None of those gathered were seen to be wearing masks or sticking to any social distancing
Florida reported 7,104 new cases on Sunday. Cases have been trending downwards since peaking in mid-July. Deaths have been trending upwards across the state with 62 new deaths reported on Sunday
Texas recorded 9,539 new cases on Saturday with infections trending downwards in the latter half of July. Deaths in the state surged to record highs last week
'If the new phase is extensive spread, what was the old phase? That was limited phase what we went through.
'It was entirely predictable. It's exponential increase which is what a virus does. It is the exponential pyramid of viral spread. It was a mathematical equation,' he said.
In the state of New York, there were three deaths on Sunday.
At the peak of the pandemic, nearly 800 people were dying in the state every day.
New York's coronavirus response has been far harsher than other states and Cuomo has been criticized for many components of it.
Recently, he has begun forcing bars to sell food to outdoor diners or risk being shut down.
His reasoning for it is that people who are looking to 'party' and gather in large groups will be deterred by having to order food.
Restaurants across New York City have responded by offering $1 menus.
