Once The COVID-19 Epicenter, New York City Begins Tentative Phase 2 Re-Opening

New York City, which experienced the world’s biggest COVID-19 outbreak, is set to take conditional steps to reopen.

New York State has been taking gradual steps to reopen its regions, ranging from phase one to four for the last month.

Seven of New York’s ten regions are in phase three in the reopening process as of Monday.

On Monday, New York City, Mid-Hudson and Long Island – among the hardest-hit regions of all – have entered phase two.

“To continue our success at bending the curve everyone must be smart,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-New York) tweeted as he announced New York City’s phase two of reopening.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) was also happy to announce that the city is finally able to ease some of the restrictions.

“Phase 1 was a big deal,” de Blasio said at a press briefing Monday. “But Phase 2 is really a giant step for this city. This is where most of our economy is.”

While phase one will only allow a limited number of sectors – construction, manufacturing, wholesale shops and drop-off and pickup retail businesses – to reopen, phase two will have a wider-range of businesses to reopen, including offices, outdoor dining and houses of worship.

Phase three will reopen a wider range of hospitality industries, allowing restaurants for dine-in services, most importantly.

Phase four, the stage which New York and the rest of the country to see soon, will finally open schools and recreation businesses to reopen.

Article by Dongyoon Shin