Mayor Bill de Blasio wants New York City to "fully reopen by July 1", after more than a year of coronavirus restrictions and capacity limits in a metropolis that was once the global epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We are ready to bring New York City back fully on July 1," Mr de Blasio told a news briefing, citing steady rates of vaccination. "Now we can see that light at the end of the tunnel."
He said that capacity limits could be lifted for all restaurants and bars, gyms, shops, museums, arenas and stadiums as well as other spaces. He also projected that the subway system could return to 24/7 service.
The mayor said Broadway productions may not be included in his July 1 timetable since there were extra precautions involved in reopening large indoor areas. The current projection will have Broadway potentially reopening in the autumn.
“This is going to be the summer of New York City," Mr de Blasio declared. "We are all going to get to enjoy this city again and people are going to flock here from all over the country to be a part of this amazing moment in New York City."
The mayor said he had not spoken with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo about the city's reopening.
The two leaders have long been locked in a contentious power struggle over the power to enact or lift Covid restrictions.
“It’s a statewide management system and we are managing it by the science, by the data,” Mr Cuomo said at a press briefing on Thursday. “I would like to get reopening – hopefully a reopening date before that. I don’t want to wait that long."
Indoor dining is currently allowed at 50 per cent capacity, and both arenas and stadiums have opened to limited capacity.
Neither Mr Cuomo nor Mr de Blasio mentioned if there would be requirements such as the presentation of a negative Covid-19 test results or proof of vaccination in a full reopen.
A year ago, the city was experiencing as many as 800 deaths per day, with healthcare systems overwhelmed and all non-essential businesses shut.
New York City also suffered during the winter surge in cases, though it is now seeing a steady decline.
The current seven-day average of infections has fallen to a level not seen since early November, according to the city's department of health.
New York City is recording an average of 33 daily deaths from the disease.
Mr de Blasio cited high vaccination rates as the reasoning behind his optimism.
The city's department of health says 37 per cent of the population – more than 2,455,000 people – have been fully vaccinated and 53 per cent have had at least one dose.
All city-run vaccination sites have opened up to walk-ins after overcoming the initial hurdle of the high demand for appointments.
More than 32,000 New Yorkers died from Covid-19, according to the city's department of health, and over 923,000 cases have been recorded so far.
Mr de Blasio wasn't sure rules regarding face masks would remain, although he did say:, "I'm convinced that many New Yorkers will still want to use their mask on a voluntary basis."
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
57%20Seconds
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
