NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that New York City can move into Phase 4 reopening, but with limitations.
Outdoor activities got a green light. Indoor activities, not so much.
“We are moving forward with Phase 4 on Monday,” de Blasio said.
Phase 4 includes low-risk outdoor activities, like as zoos and botanical gardens, which can reopen at 33% capacity.
Film and television production will also resume, along with sporting events without fans.
Malls and museums, however, are not allowed to reopen yet.
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to make the official announcement later in afternoon.
It comes as he tightens regulations on city bars and restaurants.
A new “three strikes and you’re closed” rule addresses failure to maintain safety precautions, like enforcing masks and social distancing.
Bars and restaurants statewide must also only serve alcohol to seated patrons who order food.
CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge went to Restaurant Row in Midtown, where owners and staff have a lot to say.
Bartender Amanuel Pantoja is painting and building an expanded outdoor seating space outside Swing 46, a jazz club and restaurant, because he doesn’t expect indoor dining will be allowed anytime soon.
“It’s been definitely hard for everyone,” he said. “Having a volume of 100 people to sit for dinner inside compared to about 20 people outside – that’s a drastic impact.”
Pantoja and others were looking forward to what Phase 4 would bring, but not only are most indoor activities paused, restaurant and bar owners feel further limited after Cuomo tightned restrictions on to-go cocktails due to ongoing crowds seen violating social distancing rules.
“Everybody’s together. Nobody’s wearing a face mask, and we can’t go to the gym, but we can go outside and have drinks next to each other?” said handyman Alexander Hernandez.
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Gym is considered another high-risk indoor activity. The governor and mayor say don’t blame them: Look at the numbers, the national climate and risk of infection.
“Restaurants will be able to use the sidewalks. They’ll be able to use the curbs through September, through October. We’re extending this to October 31st,” de Blasio said. “Indoor dining, that could’ve started earlier. We’ve said that’s not happening. That continues to not happen. That is very high risk and we’ve seen that around the country.”
What Phase 4 will allow is low-risk outdoor activities including a partial reopening of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Some attractions like the High Line and Governors Island are already accepting visitors with capacity limits.
The Met Museum set a reopening date for August 28, and Cuomo said we’ll see – a sentiment echoed by many New Yorkers.
“I’m not personally going to go, but I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of others who feel comfortable with that. I think it’s a personal decision at this point in time,” said Lindsay Ciancetta.
The Phase 4 timeline is also tied to schools. They can’t open until regions are in Phase 4 and maintain an infection rate of 5% or lower over 14 days.
The mayor also announced 40 more blocks of open streets.
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July 17, 2020 at 11:32PM
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Road To Reopening: New York City Set To Enter Phase 4 Next Week, Mayor Says - CBS New York
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