NEW YOR (WCBS 880) — The floor of the New York Stock Exchange reopened Tuesday for the first time in two months.
As it did in the aftermath of 9/11, the stock exchange draped a giant American flag on its landmark facade and declared themselves open for business.
"We need to get America restarted and New York restarted," New York Stock Exchange President Stacey Cunningham, who shut down the trading floor on March 23, told CBS2. "That was a hard decision to make, even though I knew it was the right one to make. I knew at the time and said at the time we will reopen and we will come back for this."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wearing a blue surgical mask, gave a thumbs up as he walked into the exchange to ring the opening bell.
"I don't believe this economy just bounces back, and it is not going to be enough just to go back to where the economy was. We are going to rebuild and recreate the economy for the future - stronger than before," Cuomo said. "Reopening the floor of the New York Stock Exchange is the first step. As trading on this iconic floor recommences, New York is showing the nation that we will lead the lead way."
Only 25% of the traders, those who depend on live trading, are allowed to return. They cannot take public transportation to get to the stock exchange and masks are mandatory.
Handshaking is also not permitted.
Blue circles have been painted on the sidewalk to the security entrance and everyone entering will have to fill out a health questionnaire and have their temperature checked. Anyone who doesn't pass the screening will not be allowed inside the building.
Plexiglass barriers have been installed to help keep traders socially distant.
Before they can return to the floor, traders will have to sign a liability waiver that prevents them from suing the stock exchange if they become infected with COVID-19.
The facility will be deep cleaned every day.
A visitor ban means there will be no ceremonial bell ringings, with the exception of the governor Tuesday morning.
Several thousand brokers and others used to crowd the trading floor of the NYSE, but the rise of electronic trading has grown to dominate the action on Wall Street and these days there are about 500 floor traders at the NYSE.