New York Bowling Alleys Can Reopen; Gym Guidance Coming Soon

NEW YORK, NY — New Yorkers can hit up their local bowling alleys as early as Monday, and gyms also will soon receive guidance from the state on reopening.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said bowling alleys will open with some "changes and adjustment." Bowling alleys can reopen Monday at no more than 50 percent capacity. Bowlers and staff will have to wear face coverings, and every other lane will be closed. Additionally, parties will have to stay with their party at their lane, and any food or alcohol served must be ordered and delivered to each lane.

"They come to you," Cuomo said. "You don’t go to a bar. You don’t go to a food concession."

Cleaning and disinfecting protocols will also be in place, especially for shared and rented equipment.

As bowling alleys resume operations, protocols for gyms will be coming Monday as well. Cuomo did not elaborate on what that might entail.

At his coronavirus briefing Friday, Cuomo said the state is looking into conducting a pilot program to analyze wastewater after COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was detected in samples.

In New York City, Cuomo said low-risk indoor cultural activities such as museums, aquariums and arts centers will be allowed to reopen Aug. 24. Those institutions will have to remain at or below 25 percent occupancy. They'll also have to implement protocols such as preset, staggered entry. Face coverings will be mandatory and traffic flow must be controlled.