Cuomo vows New York will have 'most informed reopening of any state'
This story was reported by Alfonso A. Castillo, Matthew Chayes, Scott Eidler, Bart Jones and David Reich-Hale. It was written by Jones.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo pledged Wednesday to have the best reopening from the coronavirus pandemic of any state in the country, and said he will use a silver lining of the crisis to accelerate major public works projects such as the LaGuardia Airport overhaul.
This “will be the most informed reopening of any state in the country," Cuomo said while speaking from a new and airy arrivals-and-departures wing of LaGuardia that continued to be built through the COVID-19 crisis.
He cut a ribbon at a new terminal in East Elmhurst, Queens, emphasizing it is the first new airport built in the United States in 25 years.
“We needed this, we needed this today," Cuomo said, holding it up as an example of the state's resiliency and bright future. "We needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we needed to see possibility, we needed to see New York stand up and shine, we needed to remember how great a place this is, and how great a people we are.”
Work can be accelerated on LaGuardia and other projects with fewer disruptions because, for instance, there are fewer passengers at the airport due to COVID-19.
Cuomo also called for accelerated work on the new Belmont arena, among other infrastructure projects.
“On Long Island, we are transforming Belmont, there’s going to be an Islanders' arena … Now is the time to double down,” he said.
And he spoke of speeding up $2 billion in capital projects at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
"Life goes on, post-COVID," he said.
With all state regions in some phase of reopening, Cuomo emphasized the ongoing testing program showing a low level of new coronavirus infections statewide.
Some 0.8% of people tested in Nassau and 0.9% of those tested in Suffolk on Tuesday were diagnosed as new cases — bringing Long Island below a single digit, to 0.9%, for new positives.
Three COVID-19 patients were hospitalized at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park in the last 24 hours, Northwell Health said Wednesday. Credit: Howard Simmons
Nassau and Suffolk continued to see the number of new confirmed cases drop to levels not seen since the early days of the crisis in March.
Nassau reported 35 new cases, and Suffolk had 38, according to state data released Wednesday. New York State as a whole had 674 new cases, with 425 of them coming from New York City.
As Long Island entered Phase 2 of reopening Wednesday, bringing back a wider range of businesses, including real estate, office work, in-store retail, and outdoor dining, Cuomo spoke of forward momentum, but also of caution in noting how other states have seen increases in cases as their shutdowns have ended.
"Reopening says, 'How do you now restart the economy and control the virus at the same time?' And all of this has never been done before. There’s no blueprint, there's no book written on it," he said. "There’s no expert on the globe who can say, 'Yes, I know how this should be done' … This really is going down a path that no one has traveled successfully."
He said the "new focus" will be "watching the data, watching the numbers" to guide policy.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran encouraged residents to "go outdoor dining" as the county entered Phase 2 of the reopening from the coronavirus shutdown. Credit: Howard Schnapp
He went on: “Reopening is actually much harder than closing. Closing was abrupt and disruptive, but it was simple. Everything was closed. Reopening is more delicate and more nuanced."
He said that as other states have reopened, "More of them have gotten into trouble than not.” He cited places including California, Florida and Texas.
New LGA terminal on Saturday
At LaGuardia, Cuomo and Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, described the opening of Terminal B as the biggest achievement yet in the $8 billion transformation of a facility Joe Biden once quipped seemed like something out of the “Third World.”
The project includes the demolition and replacement of every terminal and concourse except for the historically landmarked Marine Air Terminal.
The Terminal B opening “is the biggest milestone to date in the transformation of LaGuardia Airport into a world-class transportation hub that is worthy of New York State," Cuomo said.
The terminal will open to the public Saturday.
Cotton said, “Today's opening should be a shining symbol of the region's potential for a strong economic recovery with the vitality of New York before COVID-19."
He said the overhaul will transform LaGuardia “from worst airport in the country to the best, from appallingly substandard to 21st century best of class, from the laughingstock on Saturday Night Live skits, to bringing into reality the extraordinary vision of Gov. Cuomo to have a world-class airport worthy of New York.”
Phase 2, 'another milestone'
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said Wednesday that coronavirus indicators continue to improve as the reopening proceeds.
For instance, of 4,210 people tested in the last 24-hour period in Nassau, only 35 were positive for COVID-19.
That amounted to 0.8% of individuals tested. "That's a big deal," Curran said.
At the peak of the pandemic, she said, there were 2,500 tests in a day, with a 50% positive testing level.
"We have reached another major milestone in reopening, an important leap toward recovery, and getting people back to work,” she said.
"Go outside, go outdoor dining, have a nice little glass of wine, if you want," Curran said.
Curran announced that four of the county's six pools will open July 3, "just in time for the holiday weekend."
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said coronavirus indicators are below the thresholds needed to continue the reopening after the city's Phase 1 start this week.
At the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Navy Yard, where the city hosts businesses, the city saw about 60% back in operation.
"We're certainly seeing the restart kick in,” he said.
LIRR: 28,089 riders on NYC’s reopening day
The Long Island Rail Road counted 28,089 commuters Monday, when Phase 1 of New York City’s reopening began. That equaled 13% of the railroad’s pre-COVID-19 ridership.
After running on a reduced schedule for more than two months, the LIRR on Monday restored most of its regular weekday service.
Among local hospitals, Northwell Health on Wednesday reported COVID-19-related admissions were in the single digits for the second straight day. It said it hospitalized nine coronavirus patients over the last 24 hours at the 19 hospitals it owns and operates. The day before, the number admitted was six.
The total number of reported coronavirus cases since the beginning of the outbreak rose to 41,015 in Nassau, 40,464 in Suffolk, 208,118 in New York City and 380,156 statewide.
