NYC lifts coronavirus lockdown and starts the first phase of reopening plans

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The big apple moves towards phase one of reopening plans, with safety and social distancing measures still in place.
• Around 400,000 workers are reportedly going back to work after more than three months under lockdown.
• The New York City mayor welcomes the change as it is critical for the city to jumpstart its economy.

New York City is on the process of is leaving coronavirus behind, at least for now.

At around 100 days following the first case was recorded in the big apple and took almost 22,000 lives, phase one of the city’s reopening has commenced on Monday.

With the plan, almost 400,000 workers are to resume work on retail business, manufacturing, and construction sites as part of New York’s move to get the economy running again.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the recent development is a victorious moment for New Yorkers who battled the pandemic, right at the epicenter.

Just as they did after the 9/11 attacks, the workforce is returning changed city as over 205,000 New Yorkers tested positive with the virus. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, most of the areas in the town were put on lockdown.

Retail stores for now, though, will have to be contented with take-out or pick up. Shopping at stores will not be allowed for now.

Macy’s flagship was one of the stores that will reopen in Herald Square, which was the spot where some infrequent looting in previous days in New York City and the whole country has occurred following the George Floyd’s killing while under arrest with Minneapolis police.

Part of the measures being implemented in the subway includes safety officers handing out face masks with continuous reminders of social distancing to commuters.

Dr.Oxiris Barbot, the NYC health commissioner, said citizens should continue wearing face protection.

Construction laborers are also required to wear face masks, hard hats, and should be working six feet spaced out from each other.

Earlier, the president of the New York Building Congress trade group, Carlo Scissura, said that the construction business is one of New York City’s foundations. Resuming the industry is vital to ensure economic recovery, noting the safety of all workers will be the top priority.

New York City is on a clock to recovery as it’s still late compared to other states, which was now moving towards phase two. The next stage means many stores and offices have already reopened while strict measures are such as social distancing are still in place.

The city also faces unemployment problems due to the pandemic, leaving around 885,000 people jobless following the lockdown and about $9 billion budget deficit that will carry over the next year.

While Floyd protests were mostly peaceful, there are hundreds of establishments throughout the city that were damaged by looters.

Following the incident, de Blasio said they had to keep New York safe against these types of criminalities.

Source: AOL