At 2 p.m. Thursday, there will be a statewide moment of silence for George Floyd to coincide with the start of his memorial service in Minnesota.
"I believe this is a moment for national change and national reform," Governor Andrew Cuomo said during his daily press briefing on Thursday.
Governor Cuomo said the last few nights of protests over the murder of Floyd have been relatively peaceful.
"They're white people, they're African-American people, they're Latinos, they're young people," Cuomo said of protesters. "They're people who want change."
He also addressed the violence seen against police officers at the same time, saying looters and those inciting violence should be arrested and charged.
"There is no tolerance for violence against a police officer, period," he said. "That is intolerable. Police are doing an impossible job right now.
"They have treated police officers in New York City in a way that I am stunned. This is inappropriate and unconscionable.”
However, he also cast confusion later in the press conference, seeming to doubt acts of violence caught on video by police officers, saying "That's not a fact. They don't do that."
When pressed further, Cuomo clarified he did not watch some of the videos in question showing police officers hitting what seemed like peaceful protestors with batons, adding, “Anyone who did do that would be, obviously, reprehensible if not criminal.”
Thursday, the state will be directing insurers to expedite claims for businesses that were looted, provide free mediation of disputes, and accept photos as reasonable proof of loss so businesses don't have to wait for police reports.
For more information, go to dfs.ny.gov.
Cuomo also announced that the state would be expanding its coronavirus testing criteria so that anyone at the protests can get tested for the virus.
"If you have been at a protest, get a [coronavirus] test, please,” he said.
He once again warned that there could be a spike in cases with the number of people gathering outside to protest. Although some people are wearing masks, Cuomo urged caution.
"Someone infected today, on average, shows symptoms in four to five days, and if serious, could be hospitalized in eight to 12 days,” the governor said. “Eight to 12 days is a long time when we are measuring, day to day, what to do."
Right now, the state is averaging about 50,000 coronavirus tests a day. Two weeks ago, around 4% of the population tested in western New York were found to have the coronavirus. Now it is at only 2%.
It is similar for the Capital Region, that saw 2% of its population test positive for COVID two weeks ago and now is only seeing around 1%.
In the past 24 hours, 52 people died from the coronavirus in New York. This is up slightly from 49 fatalities the day before.
Westchester, Rockland, and the Hudson Valley are set to start Phase 2 of the reopening process on Tuesday. Long Island will be able to start Phase 2 on Wednesday.
Drive-in and drive through student graduations will also now be allowed in the state.