New York announced this Monday that it will lift most of the capacity restrictions imposed on bars, restaurants, theaters or museums by COVID-19 throughout May and that the Big Apple subway will operate again 24 hours a day.
The measures are one more step in the return to normal strategy that the city and state of New York plan to deploy in the coming weeks and which is expected to culminate with a full reopening by July 1 at the latest.
The state governor, Andrew Cuomo, announced in a press conference that as of May 19, the capacity restrictions that have prevailed for the hospitality, leisure and many other businesses such as retail stores, gyms or hairdressers will end.
Establishments, however, will have to ensure that there is enough space for customers to maintain a separation of 6 feet (1.8 meters), although there are some exceptions, as for example restaurants will not have to comply with this requirement if they have barriers. to separate the tables.
Nor will the distance have to be maintained in those spaces or events in which all people are required to present proof of vaccination against covid-19 or a negative test.
The new rules in New York, coordinated with the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut, also raise the limit of participants in outdoor gatherings from 200 to 500 people and indoors from 100 to 250.
Large venues – from stadiums to theaters – will be able to exceed those figures if they require vaccination tests or negative tests and have space to maintain the required distances.
As of May 19, large spaces will be able to operate with a capacity of 30% of their capacity, compared to the current 10%.
METRO 24 HOURS
Meanwhile, as of May 17, the New York subway will operate again 24 hours a day, ending the night closures that had been decreed during the covid-19 pandemic.
“Covid-19 is on the decline in New York City and across the state, and as we shift our focus to rebuilding our economy, helping businesses and getting people back to work, it’s time to return to full capacity on the subway, ”Cuomo said.
New York began closing the subway for several hours every night a little over a year ago, when the pandemic was at its height, in order to facilitate the disinfection and daily cleaning of the wagons.
For months, the New York subway closed between 1 and 5 in the morning and currently it closes between 2 and 4.
According to the authorities, the wagons will continue to be disinfected despite the return to continuous operations and the use of masks will remain mandatory.
The number of users of the New York subway, which fell by up to 95% during the pandemic, has been progressively recovering and on April 8, two million trips were exceeded for the first time in a single day.
The figures, however, are still far from pre-pandemic levels, when the average on weekdays was about 5.5 million daily trips.
Cuomo defended Monday that the complete reopening of the subway will help workers, businesses and families as the city recovers its activity.
The 24-hour opening of the metro will coincide with the lifting of other restrictions, including the closing of the terraces of bars and restaurants at midnight.
That “curfew” for the hospitality industry will end on May 31 in the case of service inside the establishments.
Last week, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, had set July 1 as the target date for a “completely” reopening of the city, although the announcements made today by Cuomo – with whom he maintains a tense relationship – seem advance the deadlines somewhat.
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