The New York "pause" that is keeping non-essential workers at home will continue until at least April 15 in order to prevent the continued spread of coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said.

Meanwhile, the governor dug in against accepting more than $6 billion in federal aid that would also prevent the state from shifting Medicaid costs onto local governments in the state.

There are now more than 59,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York and 8,503 people have been hospitalized. Deaths have also increased in the last day, growing from 728 people to 965 people in the last 24 hours.

When life will return to some semblance of normal remains an open-ended question. Cuomo at his daily briefing on Sunday said much depends on the availability of testing.

“If you could test millions of people, you could send them to work tomorrow,” Cuomo said.

New York will be facing a "rolling apex" from the pandemic, with New York City facing the brunt of it first, Cuomo said, followed by suburban Long Island and Westchester County before heading upstate.

Hospitals in upstate communities will act as a "relief valve" for health care facilities downstate if they become overwhelmed.

Extending the order for New Yorkers to stay home will mean a continued ban on gatherings during the Easter and Passover holidays.

Cuomo acknowledged that will be hard for New Yorkers, but urged them to change how they undertake religious observances in order to slow the virus's spread.

The pandemic has ground the state and national economy to a virtual halt as millions of people are ordered to stay home and millions file for unemployment benefits.

The public health crisis has also created an economic one, with New York's budget due on Wednesday and revenue virtually having dried up.

Cuomo is resisting the acceptance of more than $6 billion in federal aid, which was tied to blocking changes to the state's Medicaid program.

Cuomo reformed a Medicaid Redesign Team earlier this year amid a multi-billion dollar gap in the program.

In January, Cuomo proposed shifting some Medicaid costs onto local governments -- a move that would be prevented by accepting federal funding from a coronavirus relief measure.

Cuomo on Sunday knocked Sen. Charles Schumer, the minority leader and the state's senior U.S. senator, saying "there was no good reason" to stop the Medicaid overhaul effort, which had started prior to the crisis.

“It disqualified this state from funding. And he knew that,” Cuomo said.

The move essentially "trampled on the state's right" to set Medicaid spending, Cuomo said.

“Why would you say stop a Medicaid redesign that saves taxpayer’s money that has to be passed by the Assembly and the state Senate?” Cuomo said.

Cuomo is also resisting calls from progressive advocates to increase taxes in the budget in order to generate more revenue.

On Sunday, Cuomo warned there will be drastic cuts in order to balance the budget. He has argued such a move isn't appropriate amid an almost-certain recession as a result of the pandemic.  

Robert Mujica, the governor's top budget aide, acknowledged the state will also have to commit to some borrowing on the short term amid the declining tax receipts.