Local governments in New York should reopen shelters that serve homeless people, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said.

The state plans to release guidance in the coming days for how municipalities can reopen their shelters safely after being closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

New York has gradually reopened businesses and other public gathering spaces with limited capacity along with rules for mask wearing and social distancing. 

"They should reopen those shelters and they should reopen COVID-safe shelters," Cuomo said in a conference call. "We know how to reopen schools, we know how to open restaurants, we know how to open flexible art space. We know how to open shelters."

The call comes as the weather is due to become colder in the coming weeks and as homeless people have built their own encampments to compensate for the lack of formal shelters. Having those encampments could spread coronavirus, Cuomo said.  

"Not only is a homeless encampment a violation of that homeless person’s dignity, it’s a public health threat now," Cuomo said. "People get nervous when they walk passed them."