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A Guide To New York City's Reopening

By

Jen Carlson

Published Jun 8, 2020

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Buildings in the East Village with the words Guide to Reopening NYC over it

Gretchen Robinette / Gothamist

By

Jen Carlson

Published Jun 8, 2020

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On Monday, June 8th, New York City will enter Phase 1 of a four-part reopening plan. The city has been under a stay-at-home order (or as Governor Andrew Cuomo branded it: PAUSE) since March 22nd, though many aspects of life in the city were already winding down in the weeks before that. In mid-March, bars and restaurants moved to take-out and delivery only, schools shut down, cultural institutions and Broadway went dark, and many companies pivoted to a work-from-home plan. Millions of New Yorkers have been largely sequestered in their apartments for three months in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but now the city will attempt to slowly reopen, and below you can find the key points to each phase.

But first, you can't talk about reopening the city without talking about the city's main arteries — here's the MTA's plan:

Mass Transit

The 13-point plan from the MTA

MTA

The city's mass transit system has remained open (with limited hours) throughout the pandemic for essential workers, but now more will be re-entering the system as we reopen. And the subway is going to be a particularly difficult place to make New Yorkers feel safe, given the often prolonged time spent on platforms and in subway cars in close proximity to others. Just ahead of today's reopening, the MTA offered a 13-point plan for a safe reopening, which came down to hand sanitizer, masks and floor markings to help with social distancing.

How safe is mass transit at this time? We asked several epidemiologists and health experts.

Reopening NYC

Courtesy of Gov. Cuomo's office

When this began, we were the epicenter of the pandemic, but as we enter Phase 1, that is no longer the case. Positive rates are currently on the decline, and as long as there isn't a spike, NYC will keep hitting the benchmarks needed for each phase of the reopening. Below is the plan as it stands now, however, things may change as we move along (for example, outdoor dining was brought into Phase 2, when originally it was going to be in Phase 3).

Throughout New York's reopening process, you will be seeing social distancing markers — on subway platforms, in office buildings, and even on sidewalks in front of establishments. Businesses that reopen will have to follow a set of safety protocols as outlined by New York State, and those not following protocol could be fined.

If you are a business owner and unsure if you can reopen, here's a tool to find out. And here is the city's website on reopening.

PHASE 1

Scott Lynch / Gothamist

Phase 1 begins on Monday, June 8th. It's believed up to 400,000 people may be returning to work, with many likely returning to the city's mass transit system. Reopening does not mean going back to the normal we once knew – these phases still call for social distancing and other protocols we have been practicing for months.

Transportation

What will reopen?

Safety Protocols

Learn more about Phase 1 here.

PHASE 2

Outdoor dining only returns in Phase 2, but expect it to look a little different.

Gretchen Robinette / Gothamist

Phase 2 will likely begin a few weeks after Phase 1 (Mayor Bill de Blasio recently pointed to early July), but this depends on how case numbers are looking around then.

What will reopen?

Related: How safe is it to socialize in the open air? We asked an epidemiologist.

Learn more about Phase 2 here.

PHASE 3

Dining in will be different

Scott Lynch / Gothamist

Currently there is less guidance for Phases 3 and 4, but we will update as more becomes available. Phase 3 is currently centered around the hospitality industry.

What will reopen?

Phase 4

Venues can reopen in Phase 4

David "Dee" Delgado / Gothamist

Phase 4 will bring back all of those beloved cultural institutions, though again, everything will be operating a little differently than before.

What will reopen?

Tagged

PAUSE

COVID-19

reopening

coronavirus

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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