Governor Andrew Cuomo explained Tuesday what he wants in place before parts of New York can begin to reopen.
Cuomo says several steps need to be taken first, including adhering to the CDC guidelines. They say a region should have 14 consecutive days where the rate of infection is declining before anything can restart.
“It’s a very fact-based, data-driven reopening plan,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo says reopening is also contingent on having enough tests to diagnose those who are ill, and hospitals in the region will need at least a 30% additional bed capacity, after resuming elective surgeries, in case the reopening refuels the infection rate.
There also needs to be enough contact tracers. The tracers can identify those who have been exposed to people who came down with the virus. The governor then wants to set up safe spaces for those who need to quarantine for two weeks until they can rejoin their family.
Cuomo says the partial reopening will be limited at first to manufacturing and construction firms that can demonstrate they can safely open, with masks and other personal protective equipment, and social distancing.
He says for now it will not include any businesses that might attract people from outside.
The governor says other attractions like beaches and amusement parks would also likely have to remain closed.
Cuomo says western New York, the Capital Region, and downstate New York are not on the list for partial reopening, for now, because the rate of infection is too high.
Read the latest on WSHU’s coronavirus coverage here.
Do you have questions you’d like WSHU to answer in local coverage of the coronavirus? Let us know via this survey.
