NYC in Phase 4

New York City has finally reached the end of a long race. Phase 4 began in New York City on Monday July 20th. This is the last phase in the process to recovery from the pandemic which killed hundreds and infected thousands in the city just three months ago.

While much of the rest of the state was able to jump into Phase 4 much sooner, getting to this stage in “the city that never sleeps” has always been a challenge. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called Phase 4 a “hallmark.”

“There are no more phases,” he said. “We are all in the final phase of reopening. And that’s great.”

Phase 4 does sound great, but in a city like New York things have been far from normal. People are still required to wear masks at all times, social distance, some stores are allowing shoppers inside while others are choosing to do curb-side pick up, and restaurants/bars are only allowed to dine outside. Doesn’t sound normal to you right?

Some states have suffered consequences from opening up too quickly resulting in a limited number of daily activities. So what does Phase 4 look like? Heres’s a full breakdown on openings and closures.

What’s allowed:

For the most part, cultural venues, like zoos and botanical gardens, can open for outdoor activities at 33 percent of the venues’ total capacity. Four city zoos and the New York Botanical Garden have announced that they will open to the public by the end of the month, while the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will open to the general public in early August.

Pools have also reopened with masks and social distancing rules still in effect.

Professional sports can resume, but without fans. Media production has also resumed. That’s in addition to all of the other things that have reopened in previous phases such as outdoor dining, offices and personal care services, including hair and nail salons.

What’s left out Indoor dining is still not permitted, this comes since there has been a spike in outbreaks raging elsewhere in the country.

Restrictions have gotten tighter with officials last week banning the sale of alcohol to customers who do not also buy food, in an attempt to crack down on crowds of outdoor drinkers.

The reopening of gyms, malls, movie theaters and museums have been left out of Phase 4.

So what’s next?

There’s no timetable in sight for when and how those venues might reopen. Governor Cuomo clarified last Friday that the state is bracing for the “potential for a second wave.

Let’s just hope and pray that doesn’t happen.

All pictures are from: https://nypost.com/2020/07/24/the-city-heats-up-and-reopens-more-in-phase-4-the-posts-week-in-photos/#1

Report: Juana Norales

Instagram: @juana.n_