New York has been one of the biggest focal points of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S this year. After heavily tackling the virus to a point where business and schools could reopen once more, the looming threat of another surge remained. This resurgence is now making its presence known and the city is looking towards another partial shutdown less than two months since they reopened.
What We Know:
- After a considerable increase in cases over the past week, of which the city hasn’t seen in months, another shutdown looks imminent. On Sunday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for another shutdown of non-essential businesses, schools, and restaurants in nine areas from Brooklyn and Queens starting this Wednesday.
- Another 11 neighborhoods in the city are on a “watch list”, according to de Blasio noting the spike of coronavirus infections. More specifically, the shutdowns starting on Wednesday will include both public and private schools, dining, and most non-essential businesses, but would exclude locations such as churches or other places of worship.
- A spokesman for de Blasio told the Wall Street Journal that the city had shared the plan with the state on Sunday morning which is now waiting for what he hopes is a quick approval.
- The mayor’s announcement follows the actions of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo explaining that the state would need to revert to strictly abiding health and safety guidelines in order to curve the rising uptick in infections throughout the state.
“We’re having an extraordinary problem — something we haven’t seen since spring,’’ de Blasio said during a conference call with reporters.
- What the Wednesday shutdown means for students is the immediate relocation to all online learning again. Until then, schools and parents have roughly two days to accommodate the move back to remote learning.
- As far as other major details about the move, de Blasio has only spoken on the fact the plan “will require the support and approval of the state,’’ and hopes to get with Cuomo’s administration on the matter soon. The mayor stated it is imperative that swift action is taken “to get approval. We understand this is unchartered territory.’’
Should the lockdown proceed, de Blasio estimated it would last from two weeks to a month. During that time, the shutdown order will only be lifted if the areas effected meet certain standards and have consistent positivity rates lower than three percent in a period of two to three weeks.
