Here’s Everything You Need To Know About NYC’s Reopening Plan
By May 19, most recreational venues such as restaurants and gyms will be open at full capacity.
Finally, New York City sees a light at the end of the tunnel. The urban metropolis was arguably hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a deluge of deaths in April 2020 that devastated the city. Over a year later, vaccines are now widely available to the city, where over half the population of Manhattan has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to New York State. This had lead to steadily declining rates of COVID-19 — Gov. Cuomo’s latest update as of May 3 showed a 1.94% positivity rate. New Yorkers will soon get to reap the benefits of the overall success of the vaccine rollout plan, with more restrictions being lifted.
“After a long and incredibly difficult fight, New York State is winning the war against COVID-19, and that means it’s time to loosen some restrictions put in place to protect the public health and help our local businesses,” Gov. Cuomo said. “There’s no doubt that restaurants have been among the pandemic’s hardest-hit businesses, and New York City’s thriving restaurant industry has found it challenging to keep staff and maintain profits. We’re easing restrictions on restaurants, personal care services, and gyms to put more money in the pockets of small business owners and working people in New York City, which was hit so hard by the pandemic but, I have no doubt, will come back stronger than ever.”
Check out the full reopening plan below.
May 7
Indoor dining will expand to 75% capacity; hair salons and other personal care services will expand to 75% capacity.
May 15
Gyms and fitness centers will expand to 50% capacity.
May 17
The midnight curfew for outdoor bars and restaurants will be lifted; the 1 a.m. curfew for catered events where all attendees have provided a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination status will be lifted; 24-hour subway service will resume.
May 19
Restaurants, bars, hair salons, barbershops, fitness centers, recreational venues, offices, and more will be open at full capacity; outdoor large stadium events will expand to 33% capacity.
May 31
Indoor dining curfew will be lifted.