New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks with reporters during a press conference at a COVID-19 pop-up vaccination site at William Reid Apartments in Brooklyn, New York City, USA, Jan. 23, 2021.
Altaffer | Reuters
Large stadiums and arenas in New York can reopen with limited capacity starting February 23, subject to pre-approval by the Department of Health, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.
Stadiums that can seat 10,000 or more people will be limited to 10% capacity, and anyone entering the buildings must submit a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of the event, he said. Facial covers, social distance, and temperature checks on arrival are also required, Cuomo said.
The first major event that state health officials have already approved will take place at the Barclays Center in New York City, where the Brooklyn Nets will play against the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 23, Cuomo said.
“Any major stadium or arena – hockey, basketball, soccer, football, baseball, music shows, performances – any major arena can open on Feb. 23,” Cuomo said in a news conference.
Source: New York State
This is the first time since mid-March, when the coronavirus first passed through New York State and overloaded the hospital system, that stadiums have been allowed to reopen to fans across the state. Cuomo said on Monday that reopening the state economy, including theaters and major venues, through Covid-19 testing is “something New York wants to lead the way,”
Much of the state’s plan to reopen arenas is based on a pilot program run in January that allowed nearly 7,000 football fans to attend Buffalo Bills’ home game as long as they presented a negative Covid-19 test. Cuomo called the program “an unparalleled success”.
“This hits the balance of safe reopening,” said Cuomo.
The Democratic governor has gradually begun to lift more restrictions on businesses in recent weeks as the state markets more doses of Covid-19 vaccines and the positivity rate, or the percentage of all tests that return positive, continues to decline after a peak after the holidays. .
New York’s positivity rate was 4.3% as of Tuesday, below the 5% threshold that experts had previously suggested for reopening. That’s lower than a nearly 8% rate New York reported on Jan. 4 after the December holidays.
Starting Friday, restaurants in New York City will be able to reopen their indoor dining areas with limited capacity for the first time since mid-December. Cuomo said the state is aiming to allow weddings with a maximum of 150 people, or 50% of a venue’s capacity, starting March 15.
The events will have similar requirements to arenas and stadiums, including negative guest testing and health department approval.