Several regions of New York started reopening Friday. New York City, Westchester County and Long Island will remain shut down — for the most part.
There are some limited businesses openings statewide. They include landscapers and gardening services, low-risk outdoor activities, including tennis, and drive-in movie theaters.
The regions that are allowed to open will be monitored each day to make sure the rate of new infections or hospitalization rates don’t spike again. If that happens, those businesses allowed to open might have to be shut down again.
The governor’s chief of staff, Melissa DeRosa, says its hoped that if the phased-in reopening is done carefully, with proper testing and contact tracing, “Or else we go back to square one. And I think we can all agree no one wants to live through this again.”
If phase one is successful, phase two could begin in a couple of weeks. That step includes the full reopening of shopping malls and retail stores, along with professional and administrative services, as well as realtors and rental leasing agencies. Phase three would allow restaurants to reopen, and finally in phase four, arts and entertainment like sporting events and concerts could be held, and schools would be allowed to reopen.
Long Island and other regions can’t reopen for any business until they record a 14-day decline in hospital deaths and fewer COVID-related hospitalizations.
Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association, says the island is on track to begin phase one – construction and curbside retail – at the beginning of June.
“Phase two would be hopefully, best case scenario, mid-June. And then bars and restaurants is probably late June. So, it’s not what people want to hear.”
Law says the county health departments are working with the Restaurant and Tavern Association on safety guidelines for workers and customers.
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