This morning New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a press conference that has become a regular daily update on the coronavirus pandemic. New York, specifically the area of New Rochelle, a suburb just north of New York City, has been one of the biggest virus hotspots in the country. His particular display this morning is being praised for its show of leadership, and responsibility for the situation as it unfolds.

“We want to make sure you understand that as the facts change, our strategy changes. Right? We have a plan. We’re sticking with the plan. The plan adjusts or moves as the facts move,” Cuomo explained. “First stage was always testing, and second step was containment. And they work together.”

The governor explained his “tri-state strategy” of working in league with New Jersey and Connecticut to make sure all three states have the same rules and restrictions. “You don’t want people driving to Connecticut or New York or New Jersey because there’s a different set of rules. So, uniformity works,” he said.

The newest rule, being seen instituted across the country, is the mandatory closing of non-essential businesses like restaurants, bars, and gyms. In New York, all schools will be closed for a period of two weeks. This mass shuttering, done to encourage social distancing and preventing the spread of coronavirus, have led to disruptions in people’s lives and possible paychecks.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook with a number of local officials saying people are very, very upset. Who’s upset about the gym being closed, who’s upset that their restaurant is closed, who’s upset that the bar is closed,” Cuomo recounted this morning.

“I said to the local officials, and I want to say to the people of the state of New York: if you are upset by what we have done, be upset at me. A county executive did not do this. The village mayor did not do this. The city mayor did not make these decisions. I made these decisions,” the governor said, offering to take any political heat caused by the crisis. “I know they cause disruption. I know people are upset. I know businesses will be hurt by this. I don’t feel good about that…But my judgement is to do whatever is necessary to contain this virus.”

“The old expression, the buck stops on my desk. The buck stops on my desk. Your local mayor did not close your restaurants, your bars, your gyms, or your schools. I did. I assume full responsibility,” Cuomo concluded.

“The buck stops here” was a phrase popularized by President Harry Truman, who kept a sign with that phrase on his desk in the White House. It represented his taking responsibility for the all actions of his administration and the federal government that he oversaw.

In contrast, the current administration has been loath to admit liability for any of the failures of public policy related to the coronavirus pandemic. Since the crisis began over a month ago, the largest handicap for the U.S. response has been a lack of testing kits. This has left many individuals showing symptoms of the virus being turned away by medical staff and is in contrast with other parts of the world, for example South Korea, where testing is widely available.

During his press conference to announce the national state of emergency, President Donald Trump was asked if he took responsibility for the deficit of the public health system’s response. “Yeah, no, I don’t take responsibility at all because we were given a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time,” the president responded. “It wasn’t meant for this kind of event with the kind of numbers we’re talking about.”

This morning, prior to the governor’s press conference, President Trump criticized Cuomo and said he was acting too political. “Cuomo wants ‘all states to be treated the same.’ But all states aren’t the same. Some are being hit hard by the Chinese Virus, some are being hit practically not at all. New York is a very big ‘hotspot’, West Virginia has, thus far, zero cases. Andrew, keep politics out of it,” he tweeted.

Hunter DeRensis is the senior reporter for the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter @HunterDeRensis.

FILE PHOTO: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivers remarks at a news conference regarding the first confirmed case of coronavirus in New York State in Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo.