NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that the state will lift the remaining COVID-19 restrictions once 70 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
"When we are at 70 percent I feel comfortable to lift restrictions," Cuomo said of restrictions across commercial and social settings.
Once the state reaches that goal, mask rules would apply only to situations where the CDC still recommends face coverings, like schools, large venues, and also when riding public transportation.
"When we hit 70 we will celebrate ... we can say 'we did it,'" the governor added.
The Empire State Building will celebrate New York State's 70% vaccination milestone through a special lighting that features the State's "Reimagine, Rebuild, and Renew" campaign.
New Yorkers can watch the light display from the street, apartment windows, balconies, or a number of outdoor vantage points including:
Manhattan:
- Madison Square Park
- Bryant Park
- Penn Station (33rd Street between 7th & 8th Avenues)
Brooklyn:
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade
- Marsha P. Johnson State Park (Williamsburg)
- Brooklyn Bridge/Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Williamsburg Waterfront
- Washington Street (DUMBO)
Queens:
- Gantry Plaza State Park (Long Island City Waterfront)
Viewers outside the New York City area will be able to watch the show live streamed
Cuomo also said the state would modify the CDC's mas guidelines and allow schools to lose their mask mandate while outdoors.