Over 70% of adults in the state of New York have received at least one dose of vaccine against the coronavirus, allowing the lifting of the last restrictions, announced this Tuesday, June 15, the governor Andrew Cuomo.
“We have reached 70% vaccination. This is the national goal and we reached it before the hour […]. This means that we can come back to life as we know it ”, Cuomo said, announcing that all state restrictions on business or social life were lifted.
New York, epicenter of the epidemic in spring 2020
New York is the first major US state to announce that it has crossed this threshold, which President Joe Biden has set himself the goal of achieving by the US National Day of July 4.
The state of nearly 20 million people was at the epicenter of the epidemic in the spring of 2020, with more than 42,000 deaths, including 33,000 in New York itself. The city and the state as a whole have long been extremely cautious about the virus, lifting the restrictions only very gradually.
A celebrated event
“New Yorkers have always been tough, but the past year has proven just how tough”, added the elected Democrat, congratulating the inhabitants.
To celebrate the event, several emblematic buildings and places of the state will be illuminated this Tuesday evening in blue and gold, such as the Empire State Building or Niagara Falls, with fireworks in New York Harbor and above the falls.
A parade to honor essential workers
The day before, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio had already announced another form of celebration, with a large parade to honor essential workers on July 7 on Broadway.
Some small states are already achieving higher vaccination rates, starting with Vermont (northeast): its governor, Phil Scott, announced Monday that he had reached the rate of 80% of adults vaccinated, and proclaimed him also the lifting of restrictions as of this Tuesday.
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