All eyes are on New York as reopening tests megapolis torn by a pandemic and racial unrest
NEWYORK: The city that never sleeps had a curfew for much of last week. Famous stores were boarded up after days of unrest. The lights are out on Broadway theatres, and the subway no longer runs overnight.
But after three bleak months, New York City will try to turn a page when it begins reopening on Monday after getting hit first by the coronavirus, then an outpouring of rage over racism and police brutality.
With the virus in check — at least for now — New York is easing restrictions that shut down schools, businesses and much of city life in March.
Construction, manufacturing, wholesalers and previously “non-essential” retailers can resume work, with restrictions. Retailers can reopen for delivery and pickup, though customers can’t yet browse inside.
It’s an inflection point as the city tries to get back to business after becoming the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, suffering a surge that killed more than 500 people a day at its early-tomid-April peak. Overall, more than 21,000 people citywide have died of confirmed or probable Covid-19.
The city has already reawakened somewhat as warm weather drew people outdoors, more restaurants offered carry-out service, and most recently, as thousands of people marched in protests sparked by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Subway ridership is ticking back up after plunging from 5.4 million rides per weekday in February to under 450,000 in April.
But as the city tries to recover economically, will the virus strike back?
“It’s going to be a big test,” said Dr. Bruce Polsky, a city resident who is chairman of medicine at NYU Winthrop Hospital in suburban Mineola.