A good sign for Mem. Day

More openings in NY

Gov. Cuomo on Tuesday announced three steps easing coronavirus restrictions, including clearance for small Memorial Day commemorations this weekend and approval for New York’s Capital Region to reopen.

“That is an important American tradition,” said Cuomo during a briefing in Manhasset, LI, that touched upon the upcoming commemorations. “We want to make sure that no matter what happens, we are still honoring our veterans.”

The governor approved ceremonies of up to 10 people to observe the solemn day but said local governments have discretion on whether to allow such gatherings.

Meanwhile, Cuomo announced a two-week pilot program in which 16 hospitals statewide will allow patients increased visits from loved ones.

The visits — including at nine facilities in New York City, among them Mount Sinai Hospital, Jacobi Medical Center and Coney Island Hospital — will be time-limited, the governor said.

Visitors must also wear PPE, and submit to temperature and symptom checks.

In addition to those slightly loosened restrictions, Cuomo announced that the Capital Region will meet all seven state metrics on hospital admissions, deaths, available beds, testing and tracing by Wednesday, allowing it to ease back into normal economic and social conditions.

Only three of the state’s 10 economic regions have yet to meet the metrics for the first phase of reopening: the MidHudson region, Long Island and New York City.

The updates came as another 105 New Yorkers lost their lives in the 24-hour period ending at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, with the confirmed statewide toll at 22,843.

In the Big Apple, overall hospitalizations and ICU admissions spiked, but new positive tests dropped in what Mayor de Blasio called a “mixed bag” day.

“I very much like to see that single-digit number,” said Hizzoner of the now-9 percent positive test rate. “That’s a real good sign.”