New York.- The city of New York “will reopen completely”, recovering the maximum capacity of its businesses and offices, on July 1 encouraged by the high numbers of vaccinated, announced this Thursday in a television program its mayor, Bill de Blasio, although according to the governor, Andrew Cuomo, this reopening could be advanced.
“We are ready for stores, businesses, offices, theaters to open in full force. We are seeing that people have been vaccinated in extraordinary numbers (…). It is going to be the summer of New York City.” said the mayor on the “Morning Joe” program on MSNBC channel, before confirming it shortly after at a press conference.
The mayor’s announcement comes more than a year after the first restrictions on economic activity were imposed with the arrival of the coronavirus in the Big Apple, which became the epicenter of the pandemic during the spring of 2020.
In addition, July 1 would imply that the dates of some of the city’s best-known mass marches have passed, such as the LGTB Pride March or the Puerto Rico Parade.
In response to the words of the New York councilor, the state governor, whose relationship with De Blasio is very deteriorated, was reluctant to make predictions, called the mayor’s announcement irresponsible and decided that the opening could take place earlier.
“July? It’s May and June, what happens in May, what happens in June? I would like the desired reopening to be before that date, I don’t want to wait so long. I think that if we do the things we must do we can reopen sooner. “said Cuomo, who however, did not advance dates.
The city has administered 6.2 million doses of anticovid vaccines – 36% of the population is already immunized – and has seen the average number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths drop substantially in the last week.
“I think people are going to flock to New York City because they want to live again,” added the mayor, who a week ago announced the largest tourism promotion campaign in the history of the city to attract visitors from the to the summer.
De Blasio did not give details about this “complete” reopening, although he specified that the reopening meant that restaurants, bars, shops, small businesses, gyms, stadiums, concert halls, museums and theaters could open at 100% of its capacity.
His administration has so far set Broadway theaters to open for September, and schools for the fall as well.
In addition, July 1 would imply that the dates of some of the city’s best-known mass marches have passed, such as the LGTB Pride March or the Puerto Rico Parade.
The governor of the state, Andrew Cuomo, has set for the beginning of May the lifting of the curfew in restaurants, both inside and on the terraces, and for those dates it will also be allowed to sit at the bars of the bars. EFE
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