As of May 29, the number of hospitalizations are down and the number of new cases are down to 152, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo. This is a dramatic drop from the beginning of the crisis. The number of deaths continued to decline to 67, the lowest it has been since the beginning.

High numbers of tests helping are the basis of decisions to reopen. Using these data on the number of cases, deaths, and infection rate, NY is better able to avoid mistakes made by other regions by opening too early.

Plans to reopen are reviewed at every level: county, region, and statewide.

The five regions that were in phase one can now move to phase two. Phase two is all office based jobs, retail, real estate services, barber shops and hair salons.

There is specific guidance on how to reopen. No more than 50 percent occupancy is permitted, nor are meetings without social distancing. Employees and customers must wear face covering. Malls are still closed. Barber shops and hair salon employees interacting with customers must get tested every two weeks.

Reopening in NYC is on track to start on June 8 if the trends continue.

Governor Cuomo said “Remember that reopening does not mean we’re going back to the way things were. Life is not about going back. Nobody goes back. We go forward. It’s going to be different. It is reopening to a new normal. It’s a safer normal. People will be wearing masks. People will be socially distanced.”

New York State is tracking hot spots by zip code. New Rochelle was the first hot spot in the nation.

The Governor also extended sympathies to family and friends of George Flyod on behalf of all New Yorkers.

“It’s not an isolated incident. It is a continuum of cases and situations that have been going on for decades and decades and decades,” said Cuomo. “These are just chapters in a book. The title of the book is continuing injustice and inequality in America.”

“I stand with the protestors. I think all well-meaning Americans stand with the protestors. Enough is enough. How many times do you have to see the same lesson replayed before you do something? This country is better than this. It has been better than this, and it shouldn’t take this long to end the basic discrimination and basic injustice,” said Governor Cuomo.