Thirty-four states under COVID-19 travel advisory, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says

The number of states on New York’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine list rose to 34 on Tuesday, with Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota added, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said.

State authorities also inspected 644 establishments Monday night to see if they are following coronavirus mitigation regulations, and issued 26 summonses, Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters. They included 17 in Manhattan and nine in Queens.

Cuomo did not mention any summonses on Long Island, but did lambaste a “drive-in” concert in Water Mill last weekend that included widely reported violations of COVID-19-related health codes. The pop duo The Chainsmokers headlined the concert.

Cuomo said the event “was just a gross violation” not only of public health regulations, but “of common sense. It was grossly disrespectful to fellow New Yorkers.”

He said the state is conducting a full investigation of the event.

The Town of Southampton responded to the state, saying corrective measures had taken place once the violations became clear.

"Once violations became apparent, corrective measures, including requesting organizers to address the situation and the Police Department engaging in efforts to orderly disperse the crowd took place," reads a letter sent to New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker by Southampton Town attorney James Burke.

States/regions in red are included on New York's travel advisory list as of Oct. 27, 2020. Guam and Puerto Rico, not pictured, are also on the list.

Cuomo repeated his call for local governments to step up enforcement of the health regulations, saying the state lacks the capacity to do it on its own.

“I need the local governments to do their job,” he said, adding: “I need the NYPD to do a better job in New York City."

Despite the alleged violations mainly downstate, Cuomo said coronavirus indicators remained optimistic in New York. Some 534 people tested positive for the virus out of about 57,000 tested in results from Monday, a 0.93% level.

Nine people died Monday of COVID-19-related causes. Some 648 people were hospitalized with the virus. That included 81 who were intubated, the lowest figure since March 15.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said that county's positive level was under 1% on Monday, a trend that has remained generally consistent for the past two months.

"Nassau residents get it — mask-wearing and social distancing works," she said. "But we continue to urge anyone traveling from at-risk states to follow the Governor’s common sense quarantine protocols.”

An invitation to Major League Baseball

Cuomo also invited Major League Baseball to play games in New York State, noting it has one of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country.

He said players could be flown in on a private jet, be quarantined in a hotel, tested, play a game if they don't have the virus, and then fly out after the game. He said New York’s extensive coronavirus testing system would make this possible.

Cuomo's comments came after the Miami Marlins had to cancel several games when more than a dozen players and staff were confirmed positive for the coronavirus.

“I offer to Major League Baseball, if you are having problems playing in other states, come play here,” Cuomo said. “I think it would be good for the economy. I think it would be good for the psyche. I think it would be good for the nation’s soul."

Cuomo noted that New York has already arranged for the Toronto Blue Jays to play their home games in Buffalo, since the Canadian government is not permitting the team to play in their home city. He said the Mets and Yankees successfully trained in New York City and are playing their home games there.

He said that with his government urging people to stay home, and not go to bars, they need an activity.

“OK, let’s stay home and watch a ballgame," he said. "But then there has to be a ballgame on TV."

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone tried to get in on the action also, offering for Major League Baseball to play games at the Bethpage Park stadium of the Long Island Ducks professional team in Central Islip.

"This would be a home run for everyone!" Bellone tweeted. 

Some people responded skeptically on Twitter, saying the government should worry first about reopening schools safely and other priorities. 

Lobbying for state and local aid

Cuomo also lobbied for federal elected officials to include state and local aid in the new relief package being negotiated in Washington, D.C. He said that if that does not happen for states such as New York, property taxes could increase, school aid could go down, and fares on the Long Island Rail Road and the New York City subway system would likely jump.

Bellone and Curran, in a joint appearance Tuesday, said they were traveling to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to talk to Long Island’s federal elected officials about the importance of getting aid for the region.

Bellone said that all the problems and challenges individuals face “have only been made worse, have only been exacerbated as a result of this unprecedented crisis.”

Curran said there has been an increase in feelings of isolation, fear and economic insecurity, leading to mental health issues, substance abuse and domestic abuse in some cases.

“We want to make sure that we have the resources to be able to help people who are relying on us in a very challenging time,” she said.

All-State Festival and Winter Conference canceled

Also on Tuesday, officials with the New York State School Music Association announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic, they are canceling the December 2020 All-State Festival and Winter Conference — an event that features hundreds of Long Island student musicians.

The event, which draws about 900 student musicians and 2,000 music educators from across the state, was scheduled for Dec. 3-6 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

The decision to cancel the festival has been made only twice before: for the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945, and because of the 1991 ice storm that caused power outages throughout the state, including at Kiamesha Lake’s Concord Hotel, which was the site of that year’s festival.

David M. Brown, president of the music association, said students who have been selected for the 2020 All-State ensembles will be notified in August of their status.

"While this year’s festival will not be held, we believe it is important to acknowledge the musical efforts of those students who applied by recognizing their acceptance into our prestigious ensembles," Brown said. "We hope that in some small way teachers, families and friends can find a way to celebrate the accomplishment of being selected to a New York All-State Ensemble."

With Joie Tyrrell, Vera Chinese and Scott Eidler