New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is expressing his frustration with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and other Republican governors over their decisions to reopen their states amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.
“I say to them all, look at the numbers. You played politics with this virus and you lost,” Cuomo said.
He added, “You told the people of your state, and you told the people of this country, White House, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just open up, go about your business, this is all Democratic hyperbole.'”
Watch his comments below:
JUST NOW: "I say to them all, look at the numbers. You played politics with this virus and you lost. "@NYGovCuomo to Florida @GovRonDeSantis and others on rising cases in some states in U.S.
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) June 25, 2020
@NewDaypic.twitter.com/HjL7JP8Mj7
According to Cuomo, 27 states are seeing the number of coronavirus cases rise, death projections are increasing, and the economy is taking a real hit.
Cuomo claimed these government officials have failed to recognize it was never about politics, it was only about science.
“It was never politics. It was always science. And they were in denial, and denial is not a life strategy,” Cuomo said.
He went on to discuss the argument put forth by Republican governors claiming it is not the number of coronavirus infections that are going up, but rather the number of tests being issued.
Cuomo reiterated more Americans are contracting the infection and it is something that cannot be ignored.
“Your hospital beds are filling up. [Do] you know what that means when your hospital beds fill up? It means more people are getting sick,” Cuomo said.
He added, “That’s what’s happening and it’s now undeniable.”
New York, once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, has seen success in lowering the rate of virus spread, as IJR previously reported.
The state’s death toll and the number of hospitalizations are continuing to decline.
As of Thursday morning, there are more than 394,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York and over 31,000 deaths.