De Blasio: NYC plans to 'fully reopen' on July 1

NEW YORK (WBEN) – Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that officials hope to have New York City "fully reopen" in July.

"Our plan is to fully reopen New York City on July 1," de Blasio said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters—full strength," the mayor said. "Because look, what we're seeing is people have gotten vaccinated in extraordinary numbers—6.3 million vaccinations in New York City to date."

"We know the vaccination effort's going to grow and grow," de Blasio said.

De Blasio said the city's healthcare teams looked at the numbers and that the city is "well on the way" to a full return.

"We're giving COVID no room to run anymore in New York City," the mayor said. "We've said a month or so ago, it was the variants versus the vaccinations, what was going to win, which one was going to win the race. Vaccination is winning this race."

De Blasio said "COVID is plummeting," giving the city "the confidence we can pull all these pieces together and get life back, really in many ways, to where it was, where people can enjoy an amazing summer."

"This is going to be the summer of New York City. You're going to see amazing activities, cultural activities coming back. I think people are going to flock to New York City, because they want to live again," the mayor said.

All reopening decisions, however, have been made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"Look, the federal government, State government always have a say, but I'm saying as leader in New York City, we're ready to come back and come back strong. All of the indicators show it," de Blasio said. "We're focused on the data and the science. That's how we've made every decision, that's what's worked, and the data and the science are saying out loud, it's time to come back."

The mayor said his plan relies on more New Yorkers getting vaccinated, adding there is no excuse now that city and state-run sites are open to all without an appointment.

At a later briefing, de Blasio announced that Daniel Meyer, the CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group, would be the new chair of the NYC Economic Development Corporation Board.