What to know
- Governor Andrew Cuomo launched a pilot with the Buffalo Bills to welcome fans to two playoff games in January; they had to show proof of a negative test and comply with certain rules at the stadium
- Declaring this effort an “unparalleled success,” Cuomo said on Wednesday that other major NY arenas and venues could reopen to the public starting February 23 with tests and other requirements in place.
- The governor said months ago that testing is the key to faster reopening of entertainment, offices and more before vaccination reaches a critical mass; he says NY can’t stay closed for that long
Declaring the New York state demonstration with Buffalo Bills an “unparalleled success”, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that he will extend the test-based program to any major stadium or arena later this month.
Fans who present a negative PCR test within 72 hours of an event will be able to attend music concerts and presentations, as well as baseball, football, football and basketball games. The arenas can be opened to the public on February 23.
Certain rules and restrictions apply at the outset, said Cuomo. There is a strict 10 percent capacity limit in arenas and stadiums with a total capacity of more than 10,000 people. Facilities must submit their plans for approval by the State Department of Health. Major mitigation efforts, such as wearing a mask, temperature checks and mandatory assigned seats to ensure social distance will also be required.
State inspection efforts for eligible locations are underway, which is why the Barclays Center has already been cleared to reopen on the first possible day, February 23. The Brooklyn stadium will host fans for the Nets game against the Sacramento Kings.
“The success of this and similar events at approved locations in the coming weeks will help inform the reopening process for smaller locations in the future,” said Cuomo.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday that he was talking to the state and the Nets about his hopes of turning Barclays into a mass vaccination site for the city, so it is unclear how Cuomo’s announcement could affect his plans. .
In the meantime, the governor wants any other location potentially interested in reopening sooner or later to “let us know”.
Majority owner of New Mets, Steve Cohen, said on Wednesday that he wants Citi Field, currently used as a city-run mass vaccination site, on board. He hopes to have the stadium ready for fans at the home debut of the 2021 season against Miami on April 8, albeit with limited capacity.
“I think there will be fans. We are not sure what percentage of the stadium will be filled, but it will probably be at least 10 to 15 percent,” said Cohen. “We are hopeful – people are vaccinated and maybe things will relax over time.”
MSG said Garden will reopen for fans as well, about 2,000 per game, starting with the Knicks on February 23 and the Rangers on February 26.
The Yankees issued a statement saluting Cuomo’s decision, but the team did not elaborate its plans for when and how many fans could attend the games.
People begin to head to Citi Field as it opens its doors to the public today as a mass vaccination site, reports Katherine Creag
Cuomo said the test is the most critical key to the reopening equation in these early stages.
“I can go see the President of the United States, do a test and, if I pass the test, enter the Oval Office,” said the governor. “Why? If you are negative, you are negative. The test is the key.”
He added that the plan he unveiled on Wednesday “strikes the balance of a safe reopening. A PCR test is as safe as possible.”
Cuomo said months ago that testing is the key to reopening entertainment and sports venues, offices and more before vaccination reaches a critical mass. He said the state and New York City could not be closed for long enough to achieve collective immunity, which would likely be many months away.
The governor laid the groundwork for the plan when he launched a pilot program with Buffalo Bills to host two playoff games in January; the fans had to prove a negative test before the game and follow some rules in the stadium. That will be the model for the safe and smart reopening of New York, which saw its decline in positivity rates in the last month after the holiday.
Hospitalizations across the state reached 7,593 on Wednesday, the lowest total since two days after Christmas.
Monday was the first day that people over 75 and essential workers – including police, firefighters and teachers – were allowed to receive vaccines in New York. Gaby Acevedo reports from NBC New York.
Could Broadway be next? What about the shows at Madison Square Garden? The internal versus external dilemma is real, Cuomo said, but continues to say the test is the key to a more immediate revival of the arts, culture and sports that are so fundamental to the vibe that New York City was before the pandemic. New York City can – and will – be vibrant again, says Cuomo.
To further accelerate the renaissance, Cuomo announced the launch of NY PopsUp, an arts festival with hundreds of free pop-up performances across the state, including New York City. It is released on February 20 and runs through Labor Day.
Daily percentage of positive tests by New York region
Governor Andrew Cuomo divides the state into 10 regions for testing purposes and tracks positivity rates to identify potential access points. Here are the most recent tracking data by region and for the five districts. For the latest county-level results across the state, click here
“Cities suffered a real blow during COVID, and the economy will not recover fast enough on its own – we must bring it back,” said Cuomo in his announcement earlier this week. “Creative synergies are vital to the survival of cities, and our arts and cultural industries have been closed across the country, terribly affecting workers and the economy.”
“We want to be aggressive with the reopening of the state and put our economy back on track, and NY PopsUp will be an important bridge for the wider reopening of our world-class institutions and locations,” he added. “New York has been a leader in this whole pandemic and we will lead again, bringing the arts back.”