NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York state lifted most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, with plans to illuminate landmarks and hold 10 fireworks shows to mark its latest vaccine milestone, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday.
As of Monday evening, 70% of adults in New York had gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, Cuomo said at a news briefing Tuesday afternoon. The state hit the national goal for vaccinations "ahead of schedule," he noted.
"Tonight, we're going to light all the state assets in blue and gold, and we're going to have fireworks all across the state of New York to celebrate and honor the essential workers," he said. "It's our way of saying thank you."
“What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it," he added.
New York City's fireworks show was set to kick off at New York Harbor at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Cuomo's secretary, Melissa DeRosa, confirmed on Twitter. Shows were also slated to be held at nine other sites across the state, including Jones Beach and Nyack Memorial Park.
The lifting of restrictions Cuomo announced Tuesday apply to commercial and social settings across the state, including sports and recreation centers, offices, gyms, retail stores, child care sites and food service businesses, he said.
Masks will still be required on public transportation and in schools, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and health care settings, as well as large-scale indoor event venues. Private businesses will also still be allowed to require face coverings.
Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated New Yorkers will still be required to wear face coverings, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
New York state has gone from having the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the country — 48.16% — to the lowest, at 0.4%, Cuomo said.
“Congratulations to New Yorkers, because they are the ones who did it," he said. "We’re no longer just surviving. We’re not in our homes afraid to go out. We’re not in our homes disinfecting everything that we can see."
“This is a momentous day and we deserve it because it has been a long, long road,” he added.