New York City Could Reopen In June, Lawmakers Say

New York City Could Reopen In June, Lawmakers Say

"June is when we're going to potentially be able to make some real changes," Mayor de Blasio said Monday. "We're clearly not there yet."

 NEW YORK CITY — New York City could begin to reopen in June if the spread of novel coronavirus continues to slow, lawmakers said Monday.

The city's three tracking indicators — hospitalizations, intensive care admittances and testing percentages — all dropped over the weekend, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said it could mean the beginning of the end of the crisis.

"June is when we're going to potentially be able to make some real changes if we continue our progress," de Blasio said. "We're clearly not ready yet."

Hospitalizations dropped to 55 from 69 the day before, ICU admittances dropped to 537 from 540, and positive test percentages dropped to 13 percent from 17 percent, NYC Health + Hospital data show.

 The Health Department reported a total 178,766 COVID-19 cases, 44,812 hospitalizations, 14,753 confirmed deaths and 5,178 probable deaths reported as of May 10, data show.

During his daily press conference, de Blasio also noted he remained hopeful New York City schools could reopen for the next school year.

"As of this moment," de Blasio said, "I believe we can reopen schools safely and well in September."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday urged state lawmakers to begin reopening preparations to reopen as May 15 — the end of his stay-at-home order — approached and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state slowed.

"Start talking and start communicating," Cuomo said. "Let's get that all set sooner rather than later."

New York's state of emergency was extended until June 6 by an executive order than empowers Cuomo to continue the "PAUSE" in regions where COVID-19 continues to spread.

New York State has been under its stay at home order since March 22.

Only regions that meet seven specific benchmarks — among them two weeks of declining hospitalizations increased testing and hospital capacity — will be allowed to reopen when the order expires Friday, Cuomo said.

Reopening regions will report hospitalizations regularly to the state, and should infection rate increase, the relaunch will slow or shut down completely, the governor said.

"It will be determined by the facts and the numbers as you go along," Cuomo said. "If the dials go the red zone, circuit breaker, turn the valve off."

Certain low-risk businesses — such as outdoor tennis courts and drive-in movie theaters — will be allowed to reopen during the first phase if they can create social distancing plans to protect customers.

"You're not going to have all the businesses open," Cuomo said.

A graphic released during Cuomo's daily press conference shows regions that could potentially reopen in May are all at the north of the state.

"The question is going to shift more toward localities and regions across the state," Cuomo said. "It's an exciting new phase."

The reopening will rely on New Yorkers following state guidelines, reporting social distance issues, and not flocking to the areas first to reopen, Cuomo said.

Cuomo credited New Yorkers who followed social distancing regulations for a decrease in COVID-19 spread he estimated saved thousands of lives.

"People had to engage in governing themselves in a way they haven't done in decades," said the governor. "They understood how we were going to get over the mountain."

"June is when we're going to potentially be able to make some real changes," Mayor de Blasio said Monday. "We're clearly not there yet."

 NEW YORK CITY — New York City could begin to reopen in June if the spread of novel coronavirus continues to slow, lawmakers said Monday.

The city's three tracking indicators — hospitalizations, intensive care admittances, and testing percentages — all dropped over the weekend, which Mayor Bill de Blasio said it could mean the beginning of the end of the crisis.

"June is when we're going to potentially be able to make some real changes if we continue our progress," de Blasio said. "We're clearly not ready yet."

Hospitalizations dropped to 55 from 69 the day before, ICU admittances dropped to 537 from 540, and positive test percentages dropped to 13 percent from 17 percent, NYC Health + Hospital data show.

 

The Health Department reported a total 178,766 COVID-19 cases, 44,812 hospitalizations, 14,753 confirmed deaths and 5,178 probable deaths reported as of May 10, data show.

During his daily press conference, de Blasio also noted he remained hopeful New York City schools could reopen for the next school year.

"As of this moment," de Blasio said, "I believe we can reopen schools safely and well in September."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday urged state lawmakers to begin reopening preparations to reopen as May 15 — the end of his stay-at-home order — approached and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state slowed.

"Start talking and start communicating," Cuomo said. "Let's get that all set sooner rather than later."

New York's state of emergency was extended until June 6 by an executive order than empowers Cuomo to continue the "PAUSE" in regions where COVID-19 continues to spread.

New York State has been under its stay at home order since March 22.

Only regions that meet seven specific benchmarks — among them two weeks of declining hospitalizations increased testing and hospital capacity — will be allowed to reopen when the order expires Friday, Cuomo said.

Reopening regions will report hospitalizations regularly to the state, and should infection rate increase, the relaunch will slow or shut down completely, the governor said.

"It will be determined by the facts and the numbers as you go along," Cuomo said. "If the dials go the red zone, circuit breaker, turn the valve off."

Certain low-risk businesses — such as outdoor tennis courts and drive-in movie theaters — will be allowed to reopen during the first phase if they can create social distancing plans to protect customers.

"You're not going to have all the businesses open," Cuomo said.

A graphic released during Cuomo's daily press conference shows regions that could potentially reopen in May are all at the north of the state.

"The question is going to shift more toward localities and regions across the state," Cuomo said. "It's an exciting new phase."

The reopening will rely on New Yorkers following state guidelines, reporting social distance issues, and not flocking to the areas first to reopen, Cuomo said.

Cuomo credited New Yorkers who followed social distancing regulations for a decrease in COVID-19 spread he estimated saved thousands of lives.

"People had to engage in governing themselves in a way they haven't done in decades," said the governor. "They understood how we were going to get over the mountain."