What you need to know
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched a pilot with the Buffalo Bills to host fans of two playoff games in January; they had to prove negative and meet certain rules at the stadium
- Declaring the effort an “unprecedented success,” Cuomo said Wednesday that other major New York venues and venues could reopen to the public starting Feb. 23 with tests and other requirements set.
- The governor has said for months that testing is the key to faster reopening of entertainment, offices and more before vaccination reaches critical mass; says NY can’t stay closed for that long
Declaring New York State’s rally with the Buffalo Bills an “unprecedented success,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that he will extend the evidence-based program to any major stadium or arena later this month.
Fans who submit a negative PCR test within 72 hours after an event will be able to attend shows and musical performances, as well as baseball, football, soccer and basketball games. Arenas will be open to the public on February 23.
For starters, certain rules and restrictions apply, Cuomo said. There is a strict limit of 10 percent capacity in sands and stadiums with a total capacity of more than 10,000 people. Sites must submit their plans to the State Department of Health for approval. Basic mitigation efforts will also be required, such as the use of masks, temperature controls, and mandatory assigned seats to ensure social distancing.
The Barclays Center is now allowed to reopen on the first day it can, Feb. 23, and will host Nets fans against the Sacramento Kings, Cuomo said, adding, “Anyone else who is interested should have it. to let know “.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday he was talking to the state and the Nets about his hopes of turning Barclays into a mass vaccination site in the city, so it’s unclear how Cuomo’s announcement could affect the their plans.
Meanwhile, the new majority owner of Mets, Steve Cohen, said Wednesday that he wants Citi Field, which is currently used as the city’s mass vaccination site, to be on board. He hopes to have the stadium ready for fans at the opening of the 2021 season against Miami on April 8, although this is a limited capacity.
“I think there will be fans. We’re not sure exactly what percentage of the stadium will be filled, but it’s likely to be 10 to 15 percent,” Cohen said. “We have hope: people are getting vaccinated and maybe things will relax over time.”
Katherine Creag reports that people are starting to head to Citi Field when it opens its doors to the public today as a mass vaccination site.
Cuomo said testing is the most important key to the reopening equation in these early stages.
“I can go see the president of the United States, take a test, and if I pass it, go into the oval office,” the governor said. “Why? If you’re negative, you’re negative. Proof is the key.”
He added that the plan he presented on Wednesday “achieves the balance of a safe reopening. A PCR test is as safe as it can be obtained.”
Cuomo has been saying for months that testing is the key to reopening leisure venues, offices and more before vaccination reaches critical mass. He has said that the state and the city of New York cannot remain closed for the time it will take to achieve immunity from the herd, which is probably many months away.
The governor laid the groundwork for the plan when he launched a pilot program with the Buffalo Bills to host two playoff games in January; the fans had to prove a negative test before the match and follow certain rules at the stadium. This will be the model for the smart and safe reopening of New York, which has seen its positivity rates decline over the past month after the holiday waves.
Statewide hospitalizations stood at 7,593 on Wednesday, the lowest total since two days after Christmas.
Monday was the first day people over the age of 75 and essential workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, were allowed to receive vaccines in New York. Gaby Acevedo of NBC New York reports.
Could Broadway be next? And the concerts at Madison Square Garden? The inner and outer dilemma is real, Cuomo said, but he goes on to say that evidence is the key to a more immediate rebirth of the arts, culture and sports that are so fundamental to the vibrancy that the city of Nova was. York before the pandemic. New York City can – and will – be so vibrant again, says Cuomo.
To further accelerate the revival, Cuomo announced the launch of NY PopsUp, an arts festival that includes hundreds of free emerging performances across the state, including New York City. It launches on February 20 and crosses Labor Day.
Daily percentage of positive tests by New York region
Gov. Andrew Cuomo divides the state into 10 test regions and tracks positivity rates to identify potential hot spots. The most recent monitoring data by region and for the five municipalities are shown below. For the latest county-level results, click here
“Cities have had a real blow during COVID and the economy will not return fast enough on its own; we need to get it back,” Cuomo said in his announcement earlier this week. “Creative synergies are vital for cities to survive and our cultural and artistic industries have been closed across the country, which has affected workers and the economy.”
“We want to be aggressive with the reopening of the state and the recovery of our economy, and NY PopsUp will be a major bridge to the broader reopening of our global performance centers and institutions,” he added. “New York has been at the forefront of this whole pandemic and we will once again lead by recovering the arts.”