New York Governor Cuomo Eyes Death Benefits For Families Of Essential Workers

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is eyeing for families of essential workers who have died while battling the pandemic caused by COVID-19 to receive death benefits courtesy of the state and local governments.

Cuomo announced the news Monday during a Memorial Day briefing aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan. In his statement, the governor described frontline workers as “public heroes” for showing bravery and selflessness while fighting the virus.

“I feel a grave responsibility to our frontline workers, our essential workers, who understood the dangers of this COVID virus but they went to work anyway because we needed them to,” said Cuomo.

He further added that in honor of their sacrifices, they are “going to make sure” that every government under the state of New York will provide death benefits to those who have lost their lives during the worldwide emergency.

In line with Cuomo's announcement, Newsweek pointed that local, county and state pension funds will pay for the benefits. Qualified families are those with members who are classified as “essential,” including healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, essential business employees and others under the “state and federal essential workers list.”

“Many of those people who showed up and did their duty and served with honor lost their lives to keep us safe,” said Cuomo.

While other important details of the initiative were not immediately disclosed by Cuomo, he extended the invitation to the federal government to dedicate a portion of their federal fund for hazard pay to essential workers.

“It's a way of saying thank you, we understand what you did, we appreciate what you did. And it's a way of showing Americans that when there is a next time – and there is a next time – that we truly appreciate those people who show up and do their duty,” said the New York Post, citing Cuomo's statement.

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are slowly declining. On the other hand, the number of people who died from the virus Sunday was at 96, marking it the second time fatalities fell under 100 in three days, according to Post Star.