'I thought you'd declared victory?' Cuomo is slammed online for his infamous book lauding his own leadership during virus as a second NY lockdown looms and is labeled 'KING COVIDIUS' for 'arrogance'
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is being slammed over his best-selling book lauding his own handling of the COVID-19 crisis after he imposed a new round of lockdown measures on his state as infections rise.
Cuomo on Wednesday ordered bars, restaurants and gyms in the state to shut down on-premises services at 10pm and capped the number of people who could attend private parties at 10.
The Democrat implemented the tougher restrictions after the statewide positivity rate increased to 2.9 percent, which is the highest it has been for months.
Cuomo was immediately criticized online after announcing the new measures.
Many took aim at his decision to publish his book, 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic' last month, in which he spoke of his efforts to contain the virus as it ravaged his state in spring.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is being slammed over his best-selling book lauding his own handling of the COVID-19 crisis after he imposed a new round of lockdown measures on his state as infections rise
Journalist Yashar Ali was among the first to slam Cuomo, tweeting: 'I'm old enough to remember when you published a book just last month with this title: 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic'.
Others also chimed in, tweeting: 'Don't forget that Cuomo wrote an entire book on 'lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic' that was released in October, months before we were even close to finished with this thing.'
'Cuomo declared victory over COVID and wrote a book detailing his 'success' in defeating the virus. Oops,' another wrote.
Meanwhile, ex-Brooklyn assemblyman Dov Hikind has also revealed he is publishing his own book titled 'Lessons in leadership: King Covidius Cuomo' that mocks the Democratic Gov's handling of the pandemic.
The book is filled with blank pages apart from a foreword that reads: 'After more than 30,000 people died in his realm, the highest number throughout the land, and with a virulent virus still raging King Covidius Cuomo decided now was the right time to bring to you his immense wisdom gleaned from years of successful 'leadership'.'
Hikind, who has been critical of Cuomo's response to the pandemic, also writes: 'How being personally responsible for the highest COVID death rate in America taught me invaluable lessons.'
Meanwhile, ex-Brooklyn assemblyman Dov Hikind has also revealed he is publishing his own book titled 'Lessons in leadership: King Covidius Cuomo' that mocks the Democratic Gov's handling of the pandemic
In his book, Cuomo condemned the Trump administration's coronavirus response and praised his own leadership efforts.
Cuomo describes in the book trying to placate President Donald Trump in order to get needed hospital beds, ventilators and other supplies for New York.
He detailed the state's success at rapidly ramping up testing capacity and his worry that New Yorkers wouldn't heed calls to stay at home to help avoid a catastrophic surge in hospitalizations.
Cuomo also addresses a frequent criticism of his leadership style: that he is overly controlling.
'You show me a person who is not controlling, and I'll show you a person who is probably not highly successful,' he wrote.
The book, however, fell short of addressing Cuomo's failings, including the thousands of patient deaths at New York nursing homes.
It's unclear how much of an advance Cuomo received for it.
Critics said it was shameful for him to be trying to make money from the situation when New York has been the worst-hit state by far in terms of number of deaths.
His last book - a memoir which he wrote in 2017 - sold only 3,200 copies. He was given a whopping $738,000 advance for it - $248 for every book sold.
