Governors Island set to reopen with
limited capacity on July 15
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Governors Island will officially
reopen to the public with limited
capacity next week.
Starting July 15, Governors Island will
be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays
and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
The Governors Island Trust postponed
the 2020 season in April in order to help
slow the spread of COVID-19 and for the
health and safety of its visitors, staff, tenants,
vendors and community of cultural
organizations.
To ensure a safe environment for all
visitors, The Trust will launch a number
of health, safety and social distancing
protocols upon reopening, including a
new ticket reservation system to manage
capacity on ferries.
“Equitable access to open spaces in
our city has never been more important,
so we’re thrilled to welcome New Yorkers
to Governors Island in just a few short
weeks,” said Clare Newman, President
and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island.
“This summer, Governors Island will be an
affordable, local getaway for New Yorkers
who need it most. We’ve focused on a plan
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
New York City’s Board of Health
voted on Tuesday to approve the
reopening of 3,000 daycare centers
beginning next week.
The unanimous vote rescinded an April
3 order shuttering care centers, with exception
of home-run daycare centers and emergency
daycare centers for essential workers,
across the city to prevent the spread of the
novel coronavirus. Only about 25 childcare
programs have been up and running since
April.
During the virtual board meeting,
Deputy Commissioner for the Division of
Environmental Health Corrine Schiff recommended
that the board vote to reopen
daycare centers given the virus slowed
transmission rate in the city and decline in
new infections.
On July 5, 58 people were admitted to
a city public hospital with possibly COVID
19 symptoms and 2% of New York
City residents tested positive for the virus,
according to the mayor’s offi ce.
Schiff urged board members to consider
the number of parents returning the
workforce as the city continues to progress
through the state’s coronavirus reopening
phases.
to make the Island more accessible to New
Yorkers in areas underserved by parks this
season, and have taken important steps to
ensure the health and safety of our visitors.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the
ferry!”
Ferry service to Governors Island will
depart daily from the Battery Maritime
Building at 10 South Street in Manhattan.
Capacity on Governors Island’s ferries will
be limited during the 2020 season to allow
for social distancing. Visitors will be able
PHOTO BY JULIENNE SCHAER
Board of Health rules that New York City
daycares can open starting July 13
On Monday, up to 400,000 people returned
to the workforce as the city launched
into phase 3 of reopening which included
the reopening of personal care services like
Francis O. Scarantino with children from her Reach for the Stars daycare at
156-18 96th street in Howard Beach, Queens, Thursday, June 26, 2014.
hair salons, nail salons, and spa services
along with dog runs, basketball, volleyball,
bocce, tennis and handball courts.
The Staten Island Ferry’s rush hour
service also returned as a part of Phase 3.
to reserve ferry passes online.
Round-trip ferry tickets will cost $3 for
adults and free for riders age 12 and under
as well as Governors Island Members,
IDNYC holders and current and former
military service members. Ferries are now
also free for all New York City Housing
Authority (NYCHA) residents and seniors
65 and over. Morning ferries before noon
on Saturdays and Sundays are free for all.
There will be no surcharge for bicycles at
any time and visitors are required to wear
“They may turn to informal care if regulated
programs remain closed,” Schiff told
board members.
Schiff assured board members that the
PHOTO BY LINDA ROSIER
state emailed city daycare centers concerning
the state-mandated coronavirus mitigation
rules. As a part of their reopening,
daycare centers would not be allowed to
have more than 15 children per room.
face coverings at all times while traveling
on Governors Island ferries.
Vendors offering food and beverages will
be available upon reopening. All Governors
Island vendors will comply with the latest
foodservice guidelines and adhere to health
and safety plans that minimize person-toperson
contact, emphasize hygiene, and
allow for social distancing in serving areas.
For those who are still quarantining
at home, Governors Island At Home will
continue to be available on the Governors
Island website.
“Governors Island is an idyllic place for
New Yorkers to spread out and enjoy summer
in the City,” said Alicia Glen, Chair
of the Trust for Governors Island. “While
the season was cut short by the pandemic,
the Trust has worked around the clock to
increase access to the Island for those hardest
hit. I look forward to enjoying the views
from the Island’s fabulous outdoor dining
spots – thank you to the Trust staff and
all of our partners for giving New Yorkers
safe and secure access to one of the City’s
true gems.”
For more information, visit www.govisland.
org.
During a press conference Tuesday
morning, Mayor de Blasio said that to
mitigate the spread of the virus staff and
children would be given face coverings,
centers would be frequently cleaned and
implement daily health screening.
If a child or daycare staff member does
test positive for the virus, parents and
guardians will be contacted by a member
of the city’s test and trace corps and asked
about close contacts so that they can be
notifi ed to seek testing and stay home for
14 days, Schiff said.
“ This decision is rooted in health as
well as equity. Data show that white and
wealthy parents are more likely to have job
fl exibility or to hire independent caregivers,
while these options may not be the same
for Black, Brown and low-income families,”
Dr. Oxiris Barbot said in a statement
shortly after the vote.”We don’t want any
New Yorker to have to choose informal or
illegal child care; every child deserves a safe
place where they can learn and grow.”
Childcare centers are not mandated to
open on July 13, but can open at that time
if they are ready.
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