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CORONAVIRUS

New York state reopening: Gov Cuomo explains when and how

The Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, North Country and Central New York are the five regions already cleared to enter phase two.

Update:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 28: Actor Chris Rock joins New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Rosie Perez at a press conference where the two performers helped to promote coronavirus testing, social distancing and the use of a face mask on May 28, 2020 in New Yo
SPENCER PLATTAFP

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Friday that New York City is "on track" to enter phase one of reopening on 8 June, as he announced that five upstate regions will now transition to phase two which includes businesses like barber shops and hair salons.

Cuomo on New York reopening

The most populous U.S. city, which has become the epicentre of the country's coronavirus pandemic, was on track to meet the metrics for a safe reopening, Cuomo said.

"We are on track to open on June 8," Cuomo told a daily briefing but warned that "reopening does not mean we're going back to the way things were."

The first phase of reopening would allow non-essential construction and manufacturing to resume, and non-essential retail stores to offer curbside pick-up.

Actress Rosie Perez speaks during a press briefing with Governor Andrew Cuomo and actor/comedian Chris Rock on Covid-19 at Madison Boys and Girls Club in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on 28 May 2020.
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Actress Rosie Perez speaks during a press briefing with Governor Andrew Cuomo and actor/comedian Chris Rock on Covid-19 at Madison Boys and Girls Club in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on 28 May 2020.ANGELA WEISSAFP

Cuomo said he expected some 400,000 New Yorkers to be able to return to their workplaces starting 8 June, and said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was working on a plan to make the city's mass transit system safe for commuters.

"I understand why people would be anxious about taking public transit," Cuomo said. "The public transit system will be safe."

New York City is the only one of the state's 10 regions that has not met the seven health benchmarks for reopening set by state authorities.

The Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, North Country and Central New York are the five regions cleared to enter phase two and allow services like barber shops and in-store shopping to resume, with restrictions like 50% occupancy and face coverings.

Cuomo also recommended that professionals in the phase two industries get tested before operations resume.

"That's not a mandate that's a recommendation, and we recommend to customers to ask the barber or professional in the hair salon if they had a test before you use their services," he said.