It could all be so much better: At the beginning of the week, New York reached the fourth and final opening phase after a successful fight against Corona. But easing was stopped, restrictions extended – the metropolis sees itself surrounded by the crisis.
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After successfully fighting the coronavirus for the time being, New York is adopting increasingly drastic measures against an impending relapse into the pandemic. In addition to a stop for the vast majority of indoor activities, Governor Andrew Cuomo also extended restrictions on travelers from the rest of the United States to a total of 31 of the 50 states on Tuesday (local time). Guests from ten other regions, including Alaska, Washington and Virginia, will have to be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in New York. Those who do not cooperate risk a $ 2,000 fine.
The reason is the significantly increased number of infections in large parts of the USA. In the south and west in particular, some easing recently had to be partially or completely withdrawn. Most of the more than 70,000 new infections per day came from the populous states of Florida, Texas and California. But Johns Hopkins University is seeing increases in most states – currently especially in Alabama, Nevada and Mississippi.
“While infection rates are rising in 41 other states, our numbers are falling steadily,” said Governor Cuomo on Tuesday. “Yesterday we had the lowest death toll (at two) since the pandemic began – with no deaths in New York City.” Around 800 people died every day in the state on the US east coast at weddings. But even if the largest metropolis in the United States seems over the mountain for the time being, many of its residents assume that New York, as a financial center and hub, cannot permanently lock out the virus.
Meanwhile, more than three months after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in New York, life has at least partially returned, even if the economy continues to suffer. Many restaurants have built wooden terraces on the streets and sidewalks in front of their doors, at least here business is picking up again.
To make it possible to keep your distance, some streets are traffic-calmed – especially there and in the parks, friends meet again after work or on weekends. Most New Yorkers – unlike many of their countrymen – can also be seen wearing a mask. “Otherwise I’ll be mocked,” said a man in a Brooklyn kiosk to explain, although he doesn’t believe in protection.
Younger people in particular have recently been too relaxed about the situation. According to local broadcaster NBC New York, around 800 young adults celebrated a party on Long Beach at the gates of New York at the weekend. The pictures showed hardly any people with protective masks, the police said they did not intervene so as not to escalate the situation, as there had already been bottles thrown into police cars. “The young people do not understand what can happen to them or their families,” said resident Janie Zuckerman to the TV station.
Videos from the New York borough of Queens, among others, also made the rounds at the weekend and caused a lot of misunderstanding. There were large crowds of people dancing and partying in the street, crowded together. “It is stupid what you are doing!”, Governor Cuomo had scolded on Monday in the direction of the partygoers and also held the police, who in his opinion were too passive, responsible: “These crowds must be dispersed”.
That’s why the state government is now taking rigorous action against places that violate the regulations. “The restaurants and bars that encourage young people to come together threaten to bring us back to the hell we experienced three months ago,” Cuomo said on Tuesday. So far, four facilities have had their alcohol licenses revoked.
As of Monday, New York City has been in the fourth and final phase of the state’s reopening plan. Actually, museums and indoor areas of bars should have been opened, but just like shows on Broadway and other indoor activities, these relaxations are not being made for the time being. Fear of the second wave in New York remains high. (dpa)
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