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Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the mass protests in New York City and in upstate cities over the past few nights have been "counterproductive" to the cause of racial justice and may even reignite the spread of the coronavirus.

Cuomo said he supports the curfew set Monday night for New York City, saying the looting, acts of violence and alleged misconduct by the police in some instances are "unacceptable."

Curfews have been lifted in the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County that were put in place early Sunday morning in the midst of violence and vandalism that coincided with anti-police brutality protests over the weekend. 

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City imposed an 11 p.m. curfew Monday as the nation’s biggest city tried to head off another night of destruction erupting amid protests over George Floyd’s death.

With an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, New York is joining other cities around the country in imposing such restrictions after days of violence. The limit on the movement of 8.6 million people comes after months of restrictions already imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Syracuse officials thanked the community Sunday for their cooperation over a chaotic weekend that saw hundreds of protesters, but few arrests. 

"Much of [Saturday] was filled with peaceful protest, and that is something we will always support," Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said during a news conference Sunday.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh declared a state of emergency and imposed an emergency curfew early Sunday, as protests in the city escalated. The state of emergency and curfew were extended to all of Onondaga County by County Executive Ryan McMahon Sunday afternoon

Protesters gathered in front of the Public Safety Building in Syracuse Saturday afternoon, to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, who was black, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The office has since been charged with murder.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) — As unrest spread across dozens of American cities on Friday, the Pentagon took the rare step of ordering the Army to put several active-duty U.S. military police units on the ready to deploy to Minneapolis, where the police killing of George Floyd sparked the widespread protests.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said over the last 24 hours, the behind-the-scenes restart process played out in public. It was confusing, draining and emotional, he said, but at the end of the day, everyone got the result they wanted. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier Friday, that the central New York region could now move into Phase Two. 

At his Friday press conference, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that five regions in phase one of reopening, including central New York, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier, are ready for phase two. 

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said the central New York region is ready for a phase two reopening on Friday, which will include professional services, hair stylists and more retail. But New York state has not yet put out guidance on what phase two looks like, although that should be coming soon. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo brought his plea for more federal relief from the coronavirus pandemic to Washington Wednesday.

Speaking at the National Press Club, the Democratic governor said New York and other states hardest hit by the effects of the pandemi also pay billions more dollars in taxes to the federal government than they get back.

He called out leaders in red states, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who say “blue states” should not get any more money.

A new poll finds most New Yorkers are comfortable with the pace of the reopening of the economy, even though many are taking a financial hit due to the shutdown.

Onondaga County is preparing for phase two of the restart of the central New York economy. County Executive Ryan McMahon said Tuesday the numbers are good 10 days into phase one of reopening. He admitted, opening up things like law firms and downtown offices makes this one of the most aggressive moves into higher density situations. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he’ll meet with President Donald Trump Wednesday to discuss an infrastructure program with federal funds for state projects, including repairing deteriorating commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River. Cuomo said he believes the state has finally "turned the page" on the COVID-19 pandemic -- for now -- and it’s time to refocus on restarting the economy.

Cuomo began the day by ringing the bell to reopen the New York Stock Exchange after a two month shut down.

Local governments in New York will now be required to provide death benefits to public workers on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who also urged the federal government Monday to provide hazard pay to those individuals.

Those benefits will be paid for by local pension funds in the case of local government workers, and the state pension fund for employees of the state government, Cuomo said.

The daily number of deaths related to COVID-19 in New York has dropped below 100 for the first time since late March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, marking another turning point for the disease, which has killed more than 23,000 people statewide.

There were 84 additional deaths in New York Friday, the latest data available from the state, bringing the total number of fatalities to 23,282.

Communities on Long Island and the Mid-Hudson region of New York could begin the first phase of reopening their economies as early as next week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday, which would leave New York City as the lone region still on full lockdown.

“If the number of deaths continues to decline, they get their tracing up and online, both regions could reopen this week,” Cuomo said.