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Covid-19: New York Expected To Loosen Up Some Restrictions On Economy

With New York coming out the other side of the “post-holiday COVID-19” spike, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the state may be loosening the restrictions on some areas that were hit hardest by the virus.

New York has seen the COVID-19 positivity rate dropping since peaking earlier this month.

New York has seen the COVID-19 positivity rate dropping since peaking earlier this month.

Photo Credit: ny.gov
New York has seen the COVID-19 hospitalization rate dropping since peaking earlier this month.

New York has seen the COVID-19 hospitalization rate dropping since peaking earlier this month.

Photo Credit: ny.gov
Each region in New York has seen a drop in overall COVID-19 hospitalization rate.

Each region in New York has seen a drop in overall COVID-19 hospitalization rate.

Photo Credit: ny.gov
The rate of COVID-19 transmission is back under 1.

The rate of COVID-19 transmission is back under 1.

Photo Credit: ny.gov
The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in New York has been dropping.

The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in New York has been dropping.

Photo Credit: ny.gov
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he is "turning the valve" and loosening some restrictions in certain regions across the state.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he is "turning the valve" and loosening some restrictions in certain regions across the state.

Photo Credit: ny.gov

Cuomo said that with infection and hospital rates on the decline, he and the Department of Health are looking to “loosen the valve” on certain aspects of the economy to jumpstart New York’s reopening.

“We said that we hoped the spike would end after Jan. 1 when people stopped socializing as much … We talked about (that happening) in mid and late January, and that’s right where we are,” Cuomo said. “We’re seeing the spike come down, so now we can start making adjustments.”

Cuomo didn’t provide any specific details about what changes were being made, only that the Department of Health was evaluating the state’s COVID-19 “micro-clusters,” with more information expected at his scheduled COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

“We’re in a new place now, so we can start to adjust the valve and start to open up more economic activity and reduce some of the restrictions and the “micro-cluster” zones,” he said. “The Department of Health is going through that right now, but you can’t get cocky with COVID.”

Downstate, there are currently “yellow zones” in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, and Westchester counties. There are also “orange zones” on Staten Island and Peekskill.

Cuomo cautioned that even as the state is seeing improved COVID-19 numbers and some restrictions are being lifted, it’s important that New Yorkers not ease up on what has been working since the holidays.

“I know it’s been a long time, and the numbers look good today … but we’ve been down this road before, and this road has curves and potholes,” he said. “This beast changes on us all the time, and you can watch TV news all day long and still not really know what’s going on.

“This virus has been ahead of us every step of the way,” Cuomo added. “We know there are certain things we have to do, and this is a constantly changing situation so let’s be ready.”

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