New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks to reporters during a press conference at a COVID-19 pop-up vaccination center in the William Reid Apartments in Brooklyn, New York City, the United States, on Jan. 23, 2021.
Altaffer | Reuters
Large stadiums and arenas in New York can reopen with limited capacity from February 23, if approved by the state Department of Health, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday.
Stadiums with 10,000 or more seats are capped at 10% and anyone entering the buildings must present a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of the event. Face covering, social distancing and temperature checks on arrival will also be required, Cuomo said.
The first major event already approved by state health officials will take place at New York’s Barclays Center, where the Brooklyn Nets will play the Sacramento Kings on February 23, Cuomo said.
“Any major stadium or arena – hockey, basketball, soccer, soccer, baseball, music shows, performances – can open on February 23,” Cuomo said at a press conference.
Source: New York State
This is the first time since mid-March, when the coronavirus first pierced New York state and overloaded its hospital system, allowing stadiums to reopen to fans across the state. Cuomo said Monday that reopening the state’s economies, including theaters and major venues, through Covid-19 testing “is something where New York wants to lead the way”.
Much of the state’s plan to reopen arenas is based on a pilot program that ran in January that allowed nearly 7,000 football fans to attend the Buffalo Bills home game as long as they presented a negative Covid-19 test. Cuomo called the program “an unprecedented success”.
“This hits the balance of safe reopening,” said Cuomo.
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