NYC takes ‘biggest step’ in reopening after virus crisis
New York
N EW YORK — City ventured into a crucial stage of reopening as stores let people in Monday, offices brought workers back, restaurants seated customers outdoors and residents both welcomed and worried about rebounding from the nation’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak.
From Macy’s “Miracle on 34th Street” store to the World Trade Center’s office towers, the city was getting back to business, though with new virus-safety measures after a three-month shutdown.
Larry Silverstein, for one, couldn’t wait.
The 89-year-old World Trade Center developer was eager to return to his office there as Silverstein Proper- ties staffers started coming back on staggered schedules Monday. Employees have to wear masks in the 7 World Trade Center lobby, and footprints mark where to stand in elevators now limited to about a quarter their to teamwork fulfillment, To office Silverstein, usual life brings capacity. such and in-person a returning “a sense joy, of a being doesn’t able buy to into function.” arguments He that the pandemic bodes poorly for office work or New York City. “I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan,” said Silverstein, who leased the twin towers six weeks before the 2001 terrorist attacks destroyed them. “Never bet against New York, because New York always comes back, bigger and better than ever before.”
At Macy’s famous flagship store, Tammi Marilus was in line when doors opened at 11 a.m.
Shoppers have to wear masks. Workers must undergo temperature checks. Makeup testing is temporarily banned.
Still, with the store reopening, “it feels like it’s coming back to normal, even though we all know it isn’t over yet,” said Marilus, 42, who brought hand sanitizer with her and was pleased to see workers disinfecting counters.
“We have to live our lives. We have to take risks,” she said.
But some New Yorkers were apprehensive.
Alex Michaels may return soon to a retail job. He agreed it’s important to revive the economy, but he worries about poten- tial coronavirus exposure from working with the public, even with new safety measures.
“Something’s got to give. I get that,” said Michaels, 30, but there could be “a high price to pay.”
Eve Gonzalez, who’s not yet back at her food-indus- try job, feels it’s too soon to relax restrictions.
“I’m dying to go out, but people’s health is more important,” said Gonzalez, 27.
The virus has been blamed for over 22,000 New York City deaths, with the toll down to single and low double digits in recent days. Infections have plummeted from an early-April peak, but the last two weeks have still averaged about 250 positive tests a day, city data shows.
Reopening began June 8 with construction, curb- side-pickup retail, whole- saling and manufacturing. The city estimated 150,000 to 300,000 additional work- ers would return to their jobs Monday.
Meanwhile, cooped-up kids finally could climb playground monkey bars instead of apartment walls. And shaggy heads could get salon haircuts.
Victor Suarez had a socially distanced full house for much of the afternoon at his barbershop in Queens’ East Elmhurst neighbor- hood.
“It’s a lot of changes, a lot of rules we have to follow,” Suarez said. “But it’s the new normal. We’re excited to be back.”
Monday marked just the second of four reopening phases, but Mayor Bill de Blasio called it “the biggest step.” The Democratic mayor said he and wife Chirlane McCray planned to mark the occasion by dining out.
Hantz Fontaine and a friend beat them to it, lunching at an eatery in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. They found seats readily available, but Fontaine reasoned that would change as more commuters return to work.
“People are working from home. They can’t just come and hang out,” said Fontaine, a health care worker who had Monday off.
At Melba’s in Harlem, customers filled the 62 new outdoor seats faster than expected.
“It’s like a dream come true,” said owner Melba Wilson, president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance. She said outdoor dining was “the infusion that we so greatly needed” after three months of struggling to get by on takeout and delivery.