New York City will attempt to "fully reopen" by the first of July, ending all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, retail, and other businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday morning on MSNBC.
Citing that more than 6.3 million city residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19, de Blasio said it's now time for the city that was once the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic — with nearly 800 daily deaths reported in April 2020 — to mostly return to normal life.
"Our plan is to fully reopen New York City on July 1. We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength," the mayor said. "People have gotten vaccinated in extraordinary numbers, 6.3 million in New York City to date."
During the process of reopening, de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to be "smart" by practicing social distancing and mask-wearing when in public with strangers, but otherwise said the city is confident that the virus is managed to the point where life can return to normal.
