New York City could ease coronavirus quarantine from June 8 says Governor Cuomo

29 May 2020, 19:57 | Updated: 1 September 2020, 10:02

New York could begin reopening on June 8, Mr Cuomo announced
New York could begin reopening on June 8, Mr Cuomo announced. Picture: PA

By Matt Drake

New York City could begin reopening on June 8 with five upstate areas expected to introduce even broader measures, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

Mr Cuomo announced today that he expected New York to meet benchmarks that will allow it to begin easing quarantine measures within weeks.

During the first phase, nonessential stores could open and nonessential construction, as well as manufacturing, will resume again.

During the announcement via video, Mr Cumo said: “We know where the hot spots are in the city, we want to focus on them next week, be ready to open.

“We’re on track to open on June 8, which is one week from Monday.

"Remember that reopening does not mean we’re going back to the way things work. It’s going to be different.

“It’s reopening to a new safer normal. People will be wearing masks and socially distanced. It’s just a new way of interacting, which is what we have to do.”

Mr Cuomo added that five upstate areas were cleared to enter the second phase of reopening.

Writing on Twitter, he said: "Five regions will now enter Phase 2 of reopening: North Country, Finger Lakes, Central NY, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier.

"The data in these regions has been reviewed by county, regional and state officials as well as global experts in virology."

This means offices, stores and barbershops can open, with restrictions.

But New York City is the only part of the US state that has not met all seven health-related benchmarks that is required for the first phase of reopening.

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

As of Wednesday, the city did not have enough hospital beds available.

Mayor Bill de Blasio also joined the Governor and said the city and state were confident of the progress being made.

He said: "When I talked to the people of the city this morning, I told them the indicators were absolutely moving in the right direction.

"But the key to getting to the point of definition for Phase One came from the collaboration to get on the same page and make sure we were confident that this was the right time to do it.”

The city has been under of the strictest lockdowns in the US since March. It has also been one of the hardest-hit places in America.

Nonessential businesses have been closed and restaurants are only available for delivery.

The measures have cost the city nearly 900,000 jobs, so far.

Mr Cuomo said Phase One could see 400,000 employees returning to work.

In another confidence-boosting development on Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange reopened its trading floor on Tuesday for the first time since mid-March, when it closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo rang the opening bell at the NYSE, which allowed a limited number of traders back to the floor.

It required that traders adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear masks.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Russian President Vladimir Putin

UK sanctions Russian spies at heart of Putin's regime over ‘campaign to destabilise Europe’

x

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner ‘died in mid air’ before crashing into hotel worker in front of horrified witnesses

Shortly before his death, the sporting sensation posted a video to social media showing himself paragliding in circles over a field.

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner dies in paragliding crash in Italy

Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Russia could launch 'preventative strikes' on the West if 'necessary', Putin ally warns

Wounded Palestinians, including Father Jebrail Romanelli, are brought to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital after an Israeli attack targeted the Holy Family Church in eastern Gaza City.

Two worshippers dead after Israeli tank fire hits church in Gaza as Pope Leo calls for immediate ceasefire

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal is thought to have been suffering from mental health problems

Air India captain 'cut off' fuel before fatal crash, US officials say

Wilawan Emsawat has been arrested for allegedly having sex with monks and blackmailing them

Thai woman filmed herself having sex with Buddhist monks and blackmailed them

A few houses sit on a grassy area with mountain ranges in the background

Tsunami warning issued following 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Alaska

Shocking footage showed the stage at the iconic European dance festival in Boom, Belgium, engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon

Tomorrowland main stage destroyed by fire hours before festival start

As the news reporter is presenting - a huge explosion is captured erupting in the background.

Moment Israeli airstrike blasts Syria military HQ on live TV as news reporter flees in terror

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes near the Syrian army and defence ministry headquarters in Damascus.

Israel warns 'painful blows will come' as it ramps up strikes on Syria and sends more troops to the border

A volcano in Iceland has erupted, leading to evacuations.

Iceland volcano erupts for 12th time since 2021, prompting evacuations from iconic Blue Lagoon spa

A man and a woman smile at the camera

Ghislaine Maxwell could use ‘government misconduct’ to challenge imprisonment

Thousands of starving Palestinians flock to an aid distribution centre in order to receive food package.

At least 19 die in crowd crush near Gaza aid distribution centre, says US and Israel-backed aid group

Taliban fighters display their flag on patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Taliban claims it has had the 'kill list' for years and is hunting down Afghans named

Bradley Murdoch, the killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio has died after being moved to palliative care last month.

The killer of backpacker Peter Falconio has died without revealing the location of the Briton's remains