New York State reported 132 new virus-related deaths, its lowest daily total since March 26.
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware will allow beaches and lakeshores to open next Friday for Memorial Day weekend, but at 50 percent capacity, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Friday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday that New York City’s beaches would not open for Memorial Day weekend, adding that it was “not in the cards” yet, NY Times pointed out
Mr. Cuomo, however, said beaches in state parks — including Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Park on Long Island, which draw visitors from the city — would be open.
“If other states were opening, and New York wasn’t, you’d have millions of people flooding those beaches,” Mr. Cuomo said at his daily news briefing on Friday. “There’d be a problem, and that wouldn’t help anyone.”
Local governments could still make individual decisions regarding their beaches, including not to open them, but they would be required to meet a number of restrictions designed to require social distancing, Mr. Cuomo said.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that as of today, Central New York has met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state’s regional phased reopening plan when NYS onPAUSE orders expire on May 15th, joining the North Country, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions. If the trend continues, these fiveregions can begin opening businesses for phase one, which includes construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing. Business guidance for phase one of the state’s reopening plan is available here. A guide to the state’s “NY Forward Reopening” Plan is available here. The state’s regional monitoring dashboard is available here.
The Governor also announced an initial $3 million in grants are available to businesses to manufacture emergency medical supplies and equipment.Companies interested in growing or starting a medical supply business should go to www.esd.ny.gov.
Governor Cuomo also announced that President Trump has expedited $3.9 billion in funding for the MTA at the request of the Governor.
