Reopen NY: Gov. Cuomo urges New Yorkers to 'stay smart' in Phase 1 reopening

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Monday, June 8, 2020
Cuomo urges NYers to 'stay smart' in Phase 1 reopening
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said NYC has to be smart and cautious in Phase 1 of reopening.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- As New York City officially enters Phase 1 after a three-month lockdown, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the reopening process has to be done both cautiously and smart.

Cuomo said other parts of the country such as California, Florida, Texas and Arizona have all seen spikes in coronavirus cases after reopening.

"Look at the reopening date and look at when what happened after they reopened," he said. "That is the cautionary tale, my friends."

Cuomo said he was talking to a man on the subway who has family in Arizona, and the man said they are seeing a spike there.

"You have to stay smart after the opening because if you don't, you can see a spike," Cuomo said. "That is the last thing that we want to see."

Cuomo did show his appreciation for New Yorkers, saying after 100 days he is proud of them for accomplishing the feat many experts told him was impossible.

"New Yorkers bent the curve by being smart," he said on bringing the spread down dramatically. "We are celebrating, we are back, we are reopening, we are excited."

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE

abc7NY Phase Tracker:

COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates

UPDATES

New York state

New Jersey

New York City

Long Island

Connecticut

REOPENING INFORMATION

What's Open, What's Closed

Reopening New York State

Reopening New Jersey

Reopening Connecticut

RELATED INFORMATION

Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus

Total count of NYC, Long Island COVID-19 cases based on patient address