Young Adults Refuse Contact Tracing after Party Linked to COVID-19 Cluster; Rockland County Executive, Ed Day, Discusses Issuing Subpoenas Against Party Goers Refusing Contact Tracing
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Here to talk about his is Rockland County executive, Ed Day. Ed, how did you come to the pointed where you say I'm issuing a subpoena to these people?</s>ED DAY (R), COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ROCKLAND COUNTY: Well, Brooke, first of all, thanks for having me on. This is the historical reasons on why we acted the way we did. As a former NYPD commander, I used to hear excuses with regularity. But the reason why we got was because, at the end of the day, contact tracing is vital to interrupt the virus. We used that with the epidemic last year quite successfully. And one would think, if you are in a situation where you could be getting sick or maybe kill them, since we had 667 people die in the county, you wouldn't work with us to help the virus from spreading. So, after much conversation that was congenial and try to be convincing to speak to people, we got to a point where we said, you know something, under the statues of New York, the commissioner can issue an order, get a subpoena, and with those orders come a $2,000 per day fine if you fail to comply with the order.</s>BALDWIN: And today being the deadline, meaning this could be very expensive to them, $2,000 a day expensive. Have you heard from any of them since money talks?</s>DAY: It's amazing -- it's amazing how smart people got. Six people yesterday, two people today. Everybody is complying and helping us, which is all we're trying to have happen, was have them work with us. We're not looking to be punitive here. But it gets to a point where the decision I have to make is I have to -- I am in charge of the protection of this county, 325,000 residents here. It's my responsibility to insure their health. And that's exactly what we did, thinking about the other people in the county who don't deserve to be exposed to a virus and not know about it.</s>BALDWIN: From what I read, part of the issue is the small group, not small, but enough people to get folks sick, and some went to other parties and it grows and grows and grows. I'm wondering, bigger picture, do you feel like local officials, county officials are talking to each other about this, that everyone's been on the same page about who might be infected and what to do about it?</s>DAY: Absolutely. It's an investigation run out of one central location, the Health Department. That is where the core of the investigation starts. I was on the phone yesterday with the town supervisor where this happened. He, in turn, spoke to the police chief. Because we had heard rumblings about these same young people having parties over the Fourth of July weekend. We made it clear also, during public comments, that, if we locate that party, you can rest assured the police will be there in force. They will force rules and regulations and laws. It will be done with strict enforcement, which means summons will be issued, no warnings. Potentially, arrests can be made, no warnings. And we're getting the message out loud and clear. Again, we'd rather not do this. We'd rather go about our merry way and let people do what they're doing. But you can't have people compromising the health and safety of the general populous. It's not something we can allow.</s>BALDWIN: I can hear that NYPD commander coming out in you. And it's appreciated.</s>BALDWIN: As a New Yorker, it's appreciated.</s>BALDWIN: We all need to be mindful. Ed Day, thank you so much.</s>DAY: Thank you, Brooke. Appreciate it.</s>BALDWIN: You got it. You got it. Breaking news in New York today. The former girlfriend of alleged sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein, has just been arrested. We're live with details on her charges. But first, see what Atlantic City casinos look like as they start to open their doors again.