Phase 4 in New York City will begin on Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.
This means more outdoor activity can reopen, but with safety guidelines. Malls, indoor dining, museums, gyms, and movie theaters will not reopen. Outdoor activities like zoos and the city’s botanical gardens can reopen. Production of media and TV shows can also return in addition to professional sports, but with no fans.
NYC has been cleared to enter Phase 4 of reopening, starting Monday, July 20.
Phase 4 will not include indoor activity in malls, restaurants or cultural institutions at this point.
I'm so proud of what New Yorkers have done. But we must continue to be on alert.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 17, 2020
NY was once considered the epicenter of the novel Coronavirus but with the help of state legislators, they’ve been able to slow the spread and isn’t considered a hot spot. However, Cuomo is concerned that people traveling from other states to NY could potentially cause a spike in the virus. To combat that, he signed an executive order mandating people traveling from 22 states with high infection rates to self-quarantine for 14 days, take a COVID-19 test, and pay a $2,000 fine if they refuse.
NYC Fashion Week, the West Indian Day Parade, and other events that would require a permit are still canceled, except for Black Lives Matter protests.