Governor Cuomo Calls on Department Of Justice, Congress to Investigate the Department of Homeland Security’s Handling of Trusted Traveler Program Ban
State To Pursue Civil Damages From Department of Homeland Security
State Liquor Authority and New York State Police Task Force Issued 37 Violations to Establishments Last Night
Announces Toronto Blue Jays Will Play Home Games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo This Season
Hospitalizations Down to 650 — New Low Since March 18
Total Number of Patients in ICU Down to 156 – Lowest Since March 16
Less than One Percent of Yesterday’s COVID-19 Tests were Positive
9 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Confirms 753 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 410,450; New Cases in 50 Counties
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today called on the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress to investigate the Department of Homeland Security’s handling of the Trusted Traveler Program, after new information revealed DHS officials admitted to making false statements to justify the Department’s banning of New Yorkers from the program earlier this year. Prior to this development, federal officials consistently and inaccurately insisted that New York’s limitations on access to the state Department of Motor Vehicles database were unlike any other state. The Governor also announced the State will pursue civil damages from the Department of Homeland Security.
“The ban on the Trusted Traveler Program hurt New Yorkers. It hurt our economy, and it was all politics, right from the beginning. You cannot use government for political exploitation,” Governor Cuomo said. “It’s only one in a barrage of political abuses that we’ve endured by this administration, and it has to stop. I believe there are civil damages that New York State is owed and we’ll be pursuing possible claims for that. I am also calling on Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Nadler and Congressman Bennie Thompson to do a Congressional investigation on this. Government is not a political tool.”
The Governor also provided an update on the recently formed multi-agency task force to combat violations of coronavirus-related regulations at bars and restaurants. Over the course of several days this week, the State Liquor Authority and New York State Police Task Force conducted nearly 1,100 compliance checks, documenting violations at 84 establishments and issuing 37 violations last night alone. Businesses found in violation of social distancing regulations face fines up to $10,000 per violation, while egregious violations can result in the immediate suspension of their liquor license.
The Governor also announced the Toronto Blue Jays will play their home games at Sahlen Field in Buffalo this season.
Patient Hospitalization – 650 (-56)
Patients Newly Admitted – 57
Hospital Counties – 30
Number ICU – 156 (-4)
Number ICU with Intubation – 93 (+0)
Total Discharges – 72,552 (+86)
Deaths – 9
Total Deaths – 25,090
Of the 76,507 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 753, or 0.98 percent, were positive. Each region’s percentage of positive tests over the last three days is as follows:
| REGION | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY |
| Capital Region | 1.3% | 1.6% | 1.50% |
| Central New York | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.60% |
| Finger Lakes | 1.2% | 0.6% | 0.70% |
| Long Island | 1.0% | 1.4% | 0.90% |
| Mid-Hudson | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.70% |
| Mohawk Valley | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.10% |
| New York City | 1.2% | 1.3% | 1.10% |
| North Country | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.70% |
| Southern Tier | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1.20% |
| Western New York | 0.9% | 1.5% | 1.10% |
The Governor also confirmed 753 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 410,450 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 410,450 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 2,426 | 25 |
| Allegany | 74 | 2 |
| Broome | 954 | 20 |
| Cattaraugus | 150 | 2 |
| Cayuga | 137 | 2 |
| Chautauqua | 212 | 0 |
| Chemung | 158 | 1 |
| Chenango | 196 | 2 |
| Clinton | 117 | 3 |
| Columbia | 498 | 1 |
| Cortland | 82 | 2 |
| Delaware | 97 | 2 |
| Dutchess | 4,408 | 8 |
| Erie | 8,234 | 47 |
| Essex | 54 | 0 |
| Franklin | 42 | 0 |
| Fulton | 268 | 0 |
| Genesee | 261 | 1 |
| Greene | 278 | 5 |
| Hamilton | 7 | 1 |
| Herkimer | 223 | 10 |
| Jefferson | 123 | 3 |
| Lewis | 34 | 0 |
| Livingston | 161 | 0 |
| Madison | 390 | 2 |
| Monroe | 4,537 | 26 |
| Montgomery | 146 | 1 |
| Nassau | 42,860 | 44 |
| Niagara | 1,408 | 3 |
| NYC | 223,192 | 360 |
| Oneida | 1,990 | 10 |
| Onondaga | 3,360 | 16 |
| Ontario | 337 | 3 |
| Orange | 10,976 | 8 |
| Orleans | 289 | 1 |
| Oswego | 234 | 0 |
| Otsego | 102 | 0 |
| Putnam | 1,399 | 2 |
| Rensselaer | 676 | 7 |
| Rockland | 13,830 | 10 |
| Saratoga | 665 | 2 |
| Schenectady | 955 | 9 |
| Schoharie | 67 | 1 |
| Schuyler | 20 | 0 |
| Seneca | 83 | 3 |
| St. Lawrence | 254 | 1 |
| Steuben | 285 | 1 |
| Suffolk | 42,773 | 58 |
| Sullivan | 1,475 | 0 |
| Tioga | 176 | 1 |
| Tompkins | 221 | 8 |
| Ulster | 1,912 | 1 |
| Warren | 292 | 2 |
| Washington | 252 | 0 |
| Wayne | 239 | 1 |
| Westchester | 35,700 | 33 |
| Wyoming | 110 | 2 |
| Yates | 51 | 0 |
Yesterday, there were 9 deaths due to COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 25,090. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:
| Deaths by County of Residence | |
| County | New Deaths |
| Bronx | 1 |
| Broome | 1 |
| Erie | 1 |
| Niagara | 1 |
| Oneida | 1 |
| Queens | 2 |
| Schenectady | 2 |