Coronavirus Updates: NYC on track for Phase 3 on July 6

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Friday, June 26, 2020

Coronavirus Updates: NYC on track for Phase 3 on July 6

Diana Rocco breaks down what Phase 3 will look like across the five boroughs.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio said that as long as indicators remain on track, New York City should be ready for Phase 3 on July 6.

In New Jersey, Governor Murphy said that he would be joined by the Department of Education on Friday to unveil the state's plan for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Meantime, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have announced a joint Tri-State COVID-19 quarantine agreement.

In rolling out the agreement Wednesday, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said people coming in from states that have a high infection rate must quarantine for 14 days.

"We have a calibration for the infection rate, and any state that goes over that infection rate, that state will be subject to the quarantine," he said.

CONNECTICUT

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday that Connecticut will plan for a full-time, in-school education framework in the fall, as long as public health data continues to support the model.

While Connecticut has determined reopening schools for in-person instruction can be achieved based upon the state's successful COVID-19 containment efforts, this model will be supported with more intensive mitigation strategies and specific monitoring, containment, and class cancellation plans.

NEW YORK CITY

Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city is on track for Phase 3 to begin on July 6. That's when outdoor sports like basketball, tennis, and soccer can resume along with dog runs in the city.

Raw Video: NYC Mayor de Blasio announces the city is on track to enter Phase 3 reopening on July 6.

The mayor also announced that H+H locations will now offer free antibody and COVID-19 testing simultaneously.

Hospitalizations, ICU patients and percentage of people testing positive remained below their required thresholds.

A bright spot, beaches will be open in New York City starting on July 1. Open Streets is also expanding with 23 more miles.

The iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art also announced that it plans to reopen by late August and New York Public Libraries will begin to reopen in July. Twenty-two facilities will open for grab-and-go service beginning July 13.

NEW YORK STATE

The Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes and North Country are poised to move to Phase 4 on Friday, which would allow an easing of restrictions on higher education and "low-risk" arts and entertainment.

Malls, movie theaters and gyms will not be cleared to reopen. The businesses had been hoping Gov. Andrew Cuomo would allow them to open their doors after a three-month shutdown bought on by the pandemic. But the decision, first reported by the Times-Union of Albany, leaves business owners uncertain of when they will be able to welcome back customers. A spokesman for Cuomo on Wednesday cited recent surges in states that have allowed a wide range of businesses to reopen.

NEW JERSEY

In New Jersey, Governor Murphy said that he would be joined by the Department of Education on Friday to unveil the state's plan for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Raw video: Gov. Murphy says he will release guidance on reopening NJ schools

The state recieved 33,000 initial unemployment claims this past week and sent out just shy of $1 billion in benefits. For the duration of this pandemic, the department has received nearly 1.3 million total claims, and paid $8.2 billion in benefits.

Murphy said 406 people tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday for a total of 170,196 in New Jersey. An additional 26 deaths bring the state toll to 13,018. The state also added 1,854 probable deaths to the total number.

LONG ISLAND

Long Island is entering Phase 3 on Wednesday, pening nail salons, spas, massage parlors, spa services and tanning salons. Restaurants can allow diners indoors as well starting Wednesday.

Long Beach has decided to welcome back non-residents on a trial basis. The city says it will start selling daily beach passes to outsiders starting Saturday. There will be a limited number of the non-resident passes, based on temporary capacity limits.

Kristin Thorne reports on personal care establishments on Long Island like nail salons and spas getting ready to enter Phase 3 of reopening.

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