Large sports and entertainment venues in New York will be permitted to reopen at limited capacity on Feb. 23 after being closed for nearly a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.
Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, said venues that accommodate crowds of more than 10,000 would reopen at 10% capacity. The reopening plan draws on similar protocols that allowed spectators to attend Buffalo Bills playoff games at the team’s stadium in January.
Speaking at a briefing Wednesday, Mr. Cuomo said the reopening plan balanced safety and economic activity, and he called the Buffalo games an “unparalleled success.”
He said as with those games, venues and events would need the state Department of Health’s approval. Face coverings, temperature checks and socially-distanced seating would also be required. Staff and spectators would also need to receive a negative result from a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of the event.
“If you’re negative, you are negative. So the testing is the key,” Mr. Cuomo said. The announcement came amid falling Covid-19 hospitalization rates in New York.
Source: WSJ – US News
