Virtually all Restrictions on Businesses and Social Gatherings Lifted Throughout NY

Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted virtually all restrictions on businesses and social gatherings across New York State on Tuesday, June 15. The lifting of restrictions on businesses and social gatherings will make a huge impact for the music industry as it comes back to life. 

In New York State, 70 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine already, which is a huge turn of events from New York being one of the worst impacted states at the beginning of the pandemic. Throughout the course of the pandemic, the death toll in New York has reached nearly 53,000 which is one of the highest in the country.

Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke on the lifting of restrictions at the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan saying, “This is a momentous day and we deserve it because it has been a long, long road,” and added that the changes meant a “return to life as we know it.”

This lifted restrictions means that restaurants will no longer be forced to space tables six feet apart; movie theaters will be allowed to pack their auditoriums without spacing seats apart; and entering commercial buildings won’t require a temperature check. .

lifted restrictions
Empire State Plaza on June 15, 2021 – photo by Pete Mason

There are some restrictions that will stay in place for the time being though. New York will still abide by mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has advised that unvaccinated people should wear masks indoors and maintain social distancing. There will also be some stricter restrictions remaining in certain environments like health care facilities, schools, public transit and homeless shelters.

Some decisions will be up to the individual proprietor like the decision to end many of the precautions, such as allowing vaccinated customers to walk around without masks. Some businesses may decide to keep these types of precautions in place in order to allow their clientele and employees to feel safer until more people are vaccinated in their individual counties. 

With these restrictions being lifted bars, venues, and live entertainment businesses will be able to open at full capacity throughout New York and bring live music back stronger, bigger, and better then before. 

For more information on the lifted restrictions visit Governor Andrew Cuomo’s website.

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