Cuomo confirms CNY, four other regions will enter phase 4 on Friday

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Central New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, and Finger Lakes regions will start phase four of their reopening on Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

This came a day after the governor said the five regions were on track to enter the fourth phase of the state’s staged regional reopening.

What will restart in these areas is low-risk indoor and outdoor arts and entertainment (such as museums and zoos), film and TV production, higher education, and professional sports without fans. Social gatherings of up to 50 people and indoor religious gatherings of up to 33 percent of the indoor site’s capacity will also be permitted in the phase four regions.

But gyms, malls, and movie theaters will not be allowed to reopen in phase four, at least for now. More time is needed to study those facilities, including the role of air-conditioning systems in possibly recirculating the virus, according to the governor.

Coronavirus statistics

Cuomo on Thursday also announced that the state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 for the first time since March 18. He said 996 people are currently hospitalized with the disease, down 75 from a day before. At its peak on April 12, the Empire State had 18,825 people in hospitals with COVID-19.

New York had 749 new virus infections, out of 67,642 people tested in the last day (a 1.1 percent positive rate). In total, New York has had 389,666 coronavirus cases since the pandemic’s start, the most of any state and more than double the state with the second most cases, California.

Cuomo also reported that New York had 17 deaths in the last day, the same as the day before. New York has had 24,800 total deaths from COVID-19, the most of any state and almost double the No. 2 state, New Jersey.

New York State’s guidance for phase four of the reopening is available here.