<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"C’était terrifiant, lugubre. Nous manquions de tout: the masks, the ventilators”,”text”:”It was terrifying, dismal. We lacked everything: masks, ventilators”}}”>It was terrifying, gloomy. We lacked everything: masks, ventilatorssays Doctor Albert Lévy.
And the refrigerated trucks that piled up the corpses; these are images that will mark us for a long time
adds pastry chef and baker Pascal Goupil.
We have all been through the pandemic. But New Yorkers experienced it to the power of 10. The American metropolis saw the first wave break like a tsunami. The city that never sleeps has practically died out.
At the height of the pandemic, the corpses were piled up in refrigerated trucks.Photo: The Canadian Press/AP/Craig Ruttle
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It was like an after Armageddon
says Pierre Montreuil, a Quebec structural steel engineer living in New York.
In pharmacies, we could no longer find Tylenol, thermometers
says the one who was infected with COVID from the start.fever days, I was worried; then suddenly the fever went down.”,”text”:”After 10 days of fever, I was worried; then suddenly the fever went down.”}}”>After 10 days of fever, I was worried; then suddenly the fever went down.
Today, Pierre Montreuil, who works for the Beauce firm CANAM, is involved in the construction of the huge Disney headquarters in the Soho district.
« It shows a certain return to normal. There may not be as many cranes in the sky as there were 5 years ago, but New York is becoming New York again. »
New Yorkers regain a taste for life by attending public concerts.Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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New York is back
After a nearly year-long hiatus, New York is in renaissance mode. The tourists are back, but almost mainly Americans. In the streets and public squares, musicians abound. Schools are, for the first time since March 2020, in full face-to-face mode. And since September 14, Broadway has seen its theaters reopen to great euphoria.
It’s a huge industry
says Jean Brassard, actor and singer originally from Quebec, who has lived in New York for nearly 40 years.
« Imagine, in addition to actors and singers, there are costume designers, decorators, technicians and so many others. This ecosystem of more than 100,000 people was shut down for almost 15 months. »
Jean Brassard performed with a jazz group in March 2020 at the mythical club Birdland, in a show in tribute to Charles Aznavour. Half the people had canceled. And the folks at Birdland told us our show was gonna be the last [avant la fermeture]
.
Today, Jean Brassard, who plays in several American television series, was able to start working again.
Restaurants are a strong point of this city’s DNA. There are 25,000. They employ more than 300,000 people. Like everywhere on the planet, they closed their doors following the pandemic. Many have reinvented themselves in delivery.
Actor and singer Jean Brassard presents the show “Allons z’enfants” in New York. Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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But at the beginning of 2021, the municipal authorities allowed the spaces to reopen, provided they were on a terrace. However, New York was never Paris or Montreal: there were at most 1000 terraces. Today, the city has 11,000. And it will stay
adds Andrew Rigie, director of the New York City Hospitality Alliancewhich brings together the restaurants and bars of the city.
The pandemic has helped redefine public space
, adds Mr. Rigie. More public squares, cycle paths, pedestrian space. What a positive.
But several restaurants had to close their doors. And others are fragile. Because there are fewer tourists than two years ago. Above all, the countless office towers are at most 20% occupied.
New York terraces are also set up on rooftops.Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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L’ombre du Delta
September was to mark the return of many employees to the offices. But with the arrival of the Delta variant, everything was delayed
says Pascal Goupil, owner of the La maison du macaron bakery and café in the Chelsea business district.
« It’s hard on the nerves, our turnover is 40% of normal. If that doesn’t change, we won’t be able to pay our rent. I am very worried. »
Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud owns a mini-empire of seven restaurants in the American metropolis. He also has restaurants in Montreal and Toronto.
Daniel Boulud is one of New York’s most famous chefs.Photo : THOMAS_SCHAUER
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He was heavily involved during the pandemic crisis, including serving on an advisory committee to Mayor Bill de Blasio. We created a foundation that channeled 1 million meals for healthcare workers, food banks, and others
.
He also bet on opening a new restaurant last May: Le Pavillon, in Manhattan. It’s almost always full. My clients thank me
said the chief.
In all of its restaurants, employees and customers must be vaccinated. This decision was taken well before the municipal authorities imposed proof of vaccination, on September 13. We must be careful, wear the mask in public places in the presence of strangers. But at the same time, the world must start again
adds the chef.
In the metro, unmasked people are very rare. Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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New York Discipline
When we walk everywhere in New York, we see that wearing a mask is still widespread. I traveled dozens of kilometers by metro during five days of reporting. Offenders were very rare.
People were really scared
adds Quebec engineer Pierre Montreuil. In our offices, we had stopped wearing the mask for our trips; now we started again
.
New York is one of the places in the United States where citizens are the most vaccinated. There is a minority that opposes, as everywhere. But in New York, it is rather anger against the unvaccinated that dominates.
New York is reborn, but the fear of the virus is still omnipresent.Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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Dr. Albert Lévy saw many people die before his eyes in the spring of 2020. This family doctor from Manhattan went to help his colleagues in hospitals. He had the impression of practicing war medicine.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"C’était comme le film Mash“,”text”:”It was like the movie Mash”}}”>It was like the movie Mashhe said, smiling. And today, if you don’t want to get vaccinated, stay home
he adds with a much more serious face.
« I know a doctor, who is a patient in our clinic, who refuses to be vaccinated. He’s a criminal. Because he’s going to see 20 to 25 patients every day. It is a public danger. »
One of the consequences of the pandemic: more cycle paths and pedestrian spaces.Photo: Radio-Canada / Michel Labrecque
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New York has been transformed by the pandemic. There are more homeless, many New Yorkers have left the city. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find New Yorkers who think New York is going to stop being this one-of-a-kind megalopolis.
New York pulled out of 9/11 20 years ago. She will also come out of this pandemic.
“There is this concentration of business, talents and ambitions that means that New York will always be New York,” says chef Daniel Boulud.
