“COVID-19 is on the decline in New York City and across the state, and as we shift our focus to rebuilding our economy, helping business, and getting people back to work, it’s time to return to full capacity on the subway, “Cuomo said.
New York began closing the subway for several hours every night a little over a year ago, when the pandemic was at its peak, in order to facilitate the daily disinfection and cleaning of the cars.
For months, the New York subway closed between 1 and 5 in the morning and currently it closes between 2 and 4.
According to the authorities, the wagons will continue to be disinfected despite the return to continuous operations and the use of masks will remain mandatory.
The number of users of the New York subway, which fell by up to 95% during the pandemic, has been progressively recovering and on April 8, two million trips were exceeded for the first time in a single day.
The figures, however, are still far from the pre-pandemic levels, when the average on weekdays was about 5.5 million daily trips.
Cuomo defended Monday that the complete reopening of the subway will help workers, businesses and families as the city recovers its activity.
The 24-hour opening of the metro will coincide with the lifting of other restrictions, including the closing of the terraces of bars and restaurants at midnight.
That “curfew” for the hospitality industry will end on May 31 in the case of service inside the establishments.
Last week, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, had set July 1 as the target date for a “full” reopening of the city, although the announcements made today by Cuomo – with whom he maintains a tense relationship – seem advance the deadlines somewhat.
With information from EFE and Reuters
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