New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wears a protective face mask as he arrives to speak during a daily briefing following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., July 13, 2020.
Mike Segar | Reuters
New York City has been cleared to enter the next phase of reopening on Monday, but indoor restaurants, bars, museums and malls will remain closed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
“I’m so proud of what New Yorkers have done. But we must continue to be on alert,” Cuomo said in a tweet.
Phase four reopening will allow for more outdoor activities such as zoos, outdoor films and gardens, but indoor operations, like eating in restaurants and shopping at malls, will remain closed.
While New York City will be entering phase four of the state’s reopening plan, Cuomo warned that there is still a risk of a second wave, urging residents to be vigilant. Cuomo said earlier in the week he was tightening the rules as the state prepares for a second wave of coronavirus infections from states with surging outbreaks in the West and South.
“There will be a second wave, I would wager on it,” he said during a press briefing Friday afternoon. ”You can’t have this spread across the country and think that you’re immune.”
“There’s no doubt this is a high stress, high difficulty period. Many people are suffering on many levels,” he added.
The coronavirus outbreak has continued to worsen in the U.S. The nation reported a record 77,255 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, shattering its previous record single-day spike in new cases by nearly 10,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Cuomo has been critical of the Trump administration’s response, describing the pandemic in the U.S. on Thursday as a “virus of American division and federal incompetence.”
“It will be a double-barreled shotgun of incompetence,” he said. ”You know what virus is worse than Covid? The virus of American division and federal incompetence. That’s the virus that’s wreaking havoc on this country.”
Cuomo said Friday not opening the economy correctly helped “no one.”
“Not opening the economy correctly, opening and closing again. It helped no one. It cost lives” and jobs, Cuomo said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.