Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on April 26 that spectator capacity at large-scale outdoor event venues, including professional and collegiate sports and live performing arts and entertainment, will increase from 20 to 33% beginning May 19.  This increase will coincide with the previously announced increase in large-scale indoor event venue capacity.  Social distancing, masks, health screenings and all
other state health and safety protocols remain in effect.

Cuomo also announced that capacities would be increased throughout several industries that have proven to safely reopen in accordance with the state’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, starting May 15:
• Gyms and fitness centers outside of New York City will increase from 33% to 50% capacity.
• Casinos and gaming facilities will increase from 25% to 50% capacity.
• Offices will increase from 50% to 75% capacity.

“We are making tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19—our vaccination rates are going up and the positivity and hospitalization rates are going down, so now we are going to open the valves of our economy even further,” Cuomo said.
“We are increasing the capacity limits throughout several industries, including gyms outside of New York City, casinos, offices and large-scale outdoor event venues.

This is all great news, but we are not out of the woods yet.  Washing hands, wearing masks and staying socially distanced are critical tools each of us can use to slow the spread as we continue our efforts to defeat COVID once and for all.”

On April 26, Cuomo also updated New Yorkers on the state’s vaccination program.  115,854 doses had been administered across the state’s vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.1 million doses had been administered over the past seven days.  “We know the vaccine is the weapon that will win the war against COVID, but it will only work if we all take it,” Cuomo said. “We are seeing real progress in our vaccination rates across the entire state—about 45 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one shot—and our infection rates are declining every day.

I encourage all New Yorkers to sign up for a vaccine appointment as soon as possible, because we can’t defeat COVID unless we all do our part and work together.”  New Yorkers can schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX.  People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments
where vaccines are available, or visit vaccinefinder.org to find information on vaccine appointments near you. (Submitted)