NY Malls Can Reopen Soon; Guidance Coming On Schools

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said malls will be allowed to reopen during the fourth phase of the state's reopening plan, as long as they have installed enhanced heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems that can filter the coronavirus. Furthermore, all county fairs will be canceled and further guidance on reopening schools will be coming next week.

Malls will be allowed to reopen during phase 4 beginning Friday, Cuomo said.

State officials have also been consulting with stakeholders on how schools can reopen, he said. Finalized guidance will be issued July 13, and local districts must submit plans on how they plan to reopen by July 31, including precautions they'll take and whether they'll have a phased or partial reopening. From Aug. 1-7, the state will announce decisions on whether to reopen schools, Cuomo said.

The governor would not say whether reopenings could be allowed in certain regions, only that a universal decision is planned during the first week of August.

Cuomo's coronavirus briefing comes after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that public school students will spend two or three days per week in a classroom and the rest of the time learning from home when they return to school in September

De Blasio and state schools Chancellor Richard Carranza gave families the first look at what their children's schedule could look like when students return to school with new social distancing guidelines brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The plan will have schools bring in half or a third of their students in classrooms at a time— depending on how much space is available in the school building — and have kids who are at home each day continue with remote learning, officials said.

Today's update on the numbers:

57,585 tests were performed yesterday. 692 tests came back positive (1.2% of total).

Total hospitalizations are at 841.

Sadly, there were 11 COVID fatalities yesterday. pic.twitter.com/upSZDaNDMr
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 8, 2020

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