Coronavirus in NY: Gov. Cuomo bans gatherings of more than 500 people

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced statewide bans on gatherings of more than 500 people in the most drastic step yet to combat the coronavirus contagion, as the number of confirmed cases spiked to 328.

As part of new “density reduction” guidelines, such assemblies will be prohibited effective 5 p.m. Friday, with the exception of Broadway theaters, where the ban begins Thursday evening.

Additionally, venues with capacities below 500 will be required to halve their listed occupancy limits.

Schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit hubs are among those facilities exempt from the precaution.

“Science dictates these decisions,” said Cuomo.

The new number of statewide cases rose by 112 on Thursday from the 216 tallied on Wednesday.

Westchester County now leads the state with 148 cases, followed by the five boroughs, with a cumulative 95 cases.

On Long Island, Nassau County now has 41 confirmed cases, while Suffolk County has 20.