Loose restrictions and reopening of the 24-hour subway in New York in mid-May

New step towards a return to normalcy in New York: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a reopening of the subway 24 hours a day on May 17 and a lifting of the numbered capacity restrictions imposed on shops and cultural venues on May 19.

“From May 19, most capacity restrictions will end“, especially in”shops, cinemas, restaurants, museums“, which today oscillate between 33% and 75%, announced Monday the governor of the State during a press point.

Their reception capacity will however remain limited by the available space, since the federal social distancing directive of six feet (approximately 2 meters) will continue to apply. He did not specify how the state would check if it was respected.

“All arrows point in the right direction“, said the governor, pointing to the progress of vaccination, and the drop in the rates of positivity for Covid and hospitalizations in the state, to the lowest since last November.

Outdoor gatherings will now be able to reach 500 people, against 200 previously, and 250 people indoors against 100 previously, according to a press release.

The stadiums will still have a capacity limited to 33%, except for spectators who can provide proof of vaccination or recent negative PCR test, said the governor.

As for the metro, the trains will start running 24 hours a day from the metro on May 17.

Metro closed at night for disinfection

In early May 2020, when New York was at the epicenter of the pandemic, it had been forced, for the first time since 1904, to institute a night break – first from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., then reduced by 2 a.m. at 4 o’clock – to allow disinfection of the trainsets.

“The city’s economic revitalization depends on strong public transport – and its 24-hour operation is an essential part of this“said Patrick Foye, president of the New York transport authority MTA, stressing that wearing a mask and rigorous disinfection would remain in effect.

The announcement of these measures, in coordination with the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut, comes as some 80,000 municipal employees in the American metropolis were to resume face-to-face work on Monday, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

If New York now seems to be on track to reopen fully by July 1 – target set by the mayor – the main uncertainty concerns the return of “white cabbages“in the Midtown and Wall Street business districts.

Most continue to work primarily from home, and many employers have not set a mandatory return date.

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