New York city awakens after long sleep
New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio. Associated Press / Mary
Altaffer
Caribbean Life, MAY 14-20, 2021 11
New York is awakening from
a year-long slumber caused by
the Covid-19 pandemic crisis
which quarantined residents
from normal activities.
Once regarded as the epicenter
of the virus, the city
will be fully reopened by July
1 allowing full capacity for restaurants
and bars, stores, shops
and small businesses, hair
salons and barbershops, gyms
and fitness classes, arenas, stadiums,
music halls, museums
and theaters.
“Our plan is to fully reopen
New York City on July 1,”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “We
are ready for stores to open,
for businesses to open, offices,
theaters, full strength.”
Since making that statement
last week, 80,000 municipal
workers have returned to
the office buildings they vacated
when a total lockdown was
imposed March 2020.
During that period, surging
infection rates exhausted
hospitals forcing assistance
from the federal government
to provide a US Navy ship and
the construction of temporary
medical facilities.
With accelerated aid this
year from a new administration
in Washington D.C., the mayor
now boasts that a whopping 6.3
million doses of Covid vaccines
have been administered here.
That figure translates to 36
percent of the adult population
receiving full vaccinations.
More than half the city’s
adult population has received
at least one dose of the Pfizer,
Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson’s
vaccine.
With such an outstanding
fast track to recovery, both Gov.
Andrew Cuomo and the mayor
agree that using safety standards
New Yorkers will be ready
to resume normal activities.
According to the number
one citizen of New York, “We
have poured over the science
and the data.”
“This is going to be the summer
of New York City. You’re
going to see amazing activities,
cultural activities coming back.
I think people are going to
flock to New York City because
they want to live again.”
Already, the ban imposed on
bars have been lifted and seating
inside restored.
Outdoor dining curfews of
midnight are set to end this
week on May 17 and indoor dining
curfews will expire May 31.
Schools will be back at “full
strength” in the fall.
“We are New York tough,”
the governor said.
With that said it is safe to
add that ‘when the going gets
rough, the tough gets going.”
While summer will return
most of the amenities New
Yorkers are accustomed, tourists
and Broadway theater lovers
will have to wait until fall
to regain access to the most
alluring stage productions.
“We are now on track to
allow full capacity performances
on Broadway to resume
beginning this September,
bringing back this beloved
world-famous attraction.”
Mayor de Blasio added that
in addition tourists will be able
to get free vaccines.
“Visitors from all around the
world have come to New York
to experience the arts and culture
and see iconic performances
on Broadway.
Prior to the pandemic,
almost 250,000 people were
seeing a Broadway show every
week. Broadway contributes
about $14.7 billion every year
to the NYC economy.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce