You are reading

New York City On Track to Enter Phase Two Monday: Hair Salons, Outdoor Dining to Reopen

Governor Andrew Cuomo discussing the decline in new COVID-19 cases in New York City (Gov. Andrew Cuomo at today’s press briefing)

June 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin

New York City is on track to enter Phase Two of the state’s reopening process Monday, with hair salons, barbershops and outdoor dining to reopen.

Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement today just hours after Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to give a precise date for when the city will move into the second reopening phase.

De Blasio said the city must wait to see if there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases stemming from recent protests before making a decision. He said the Health Department will know if the demonstrations have had an impact as early as the weekend.

“It’s a day-to-day discussion,” he said of a Phase Two date this morning. “We want to come to a decision with the state as quickly as possible.”

The mayor said the earliest day possible would be Monday, but he has previously warned the city may not move into Phase Two until early July.

However, Cuomo said New York City has made significant progress fighting back the deadly virus and is ready to take the next step towards getting back to normalcy.

“New York [City] is on track to enter Phase Two on Monday,” Cuomo said at his daily briefing in Albany.

Under Phase Two, retail stores can open in-store shopping. Some offices, places of worship, real estate offices and car dealerships can also reopen with limited capacities.

Hair salons and barbers shops will be able to reopen at 50 percent capacity, while restaurants will be able to open their doors for outdoor service also at 50 percent capacity. Customers and staff must wear face masks.

The Big Apple will be the last of the state’s 10 regions to begin Phase Two. Several regions have already entered Phase Three.

“You look at all the numbers, all the numbers are good,” Cuomo said, indicating the city has met the standards to move forward.

The number of new hospital admissions for suspected COVID patients has decreased dramatically in New York City. On Monday, 55 patients were admitted to a hospital — well below the city’s goal of below 200.

Just 2 percent of city residents who were tested Monday were found to have COVID-19, according to the latest DOH data.

“New York [City] has climbed the mountain and it was the highest mountain in the state of New York,” Cuomo said today, as he displayed a graphic showing a rapid decline in COVID-19 cases.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

FDNY promotes more than 100 members to higher leadership ranks at Queens College ceremony

Queens College hosted an FDNY promotion ceremony on Tuesday that saw 109 members of fire operations move up the ranks before family and friends in the Colden Auditorium.

One deputy chief was promoted to the rank of deputy assistant chief, two battalion chiefs were promoted to deputy chief, 12 captains were promoted to the rank of battalion chief, 38 lieutenants were promoted to captain and 56 firefighters were promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Fresh Meadows MS-13 gang associate sentenced to nearly a half-century in prison for murder of Corona teen in Kissena Park: Feds

An MS-13 gang associate from Fresh Meadows was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison on Tuesday, Aug. 26, for the 2018 slaying of a Corona teenager in Flushing’s Kissena Park.

Juan Amaya-Ramirez, 27, and his co-defendant Oscar Flores-Mejia, 25, from Elmhurst, who is also an associate of the transnational criminal organization, pleaded guilty to the murder of 17-year-old Andy Peralta in Brooklyn federal court last September.

Plant Powered Metro NY helps reverse chronic illness with food and community

Aug. 28, 2025 By Jessica Militello

When Northern Queens resident Sherika Sterling discovered Plant Powered Metro NY’s Jumpstart program, she was struggling with a list of health issues that she thought she would have to deal with her entire life. After joining the program and changing to a plant-based diet, she was able to reverse many of her chronic ailments, including being pre-diabetic, after being equipped with practical tools, knowledge and plant-based recipes.