This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On May 4, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined a phased reopening plan for the state, which has been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan, which does not specify a timeline, will start with select industries such as construction and manufacturing in the least affected regions.
Cuomo emphasized that the state's stay-at-home order, set to expire on May 15, will be lifted once regions meet certain thresholds, including a low rate of new infections, sufficient hospital capacity, and adequate diagnostic testing capacity. He also stated that hospitals must have 90 days' worth of personal protective equipment in stock to avoid shortages.
The governor showed a slide labeling northern and central parts of the state as 'lower-risk regions' in contrast to harder hit areas like New York City and Long Island. Cuomo noted that while the state has tested over 1 million residents, or roughly 5 percent of the population, seven of the state's 10 regions have not met a threshold of testing 30 people for every 1,000 in the population on a monthly basis.
According to Cuomo, 226 New Yorkers died on Sunday, the lowest daily total since March 27, and hospitalizations and intubations continued a downward trend started three weeks ago. However, he warned against underestimating the virus, citing the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic as an example of how a second wave can be deadlier.
As of May 4, 2020, nearly 25,000 New Yorkers have died from COVID-19, according to a Reuters tally. Cuomo emphasized that the virus is a 'different beast' that requires a cautious approach to reopening.
