Road To Reopening: New York Lifts Curfew For Gyms, Movie Theaters And Other Businesses
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Tri-State coronavirus restrictions continue to ease Monday on the road to reopening.
In New York, the 11 p.m. curfew will be lifted for casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, billiard halls, gyms and fitness centers.
CBS2's John Dias spoke with Caroline Tribe, a self-proclaimed movie-junking, who goes to the theater twice a week with friends.
"I feel like the simplest thing now is so much more fun being with friends," said the Upper West Side woman.
She said she's eager for showings to now start later.
"Literately anything on the screen, we'll see," she said. "It could be hard, because some of our friends can't make it because of work, because we do have to go earlier."
Other New Yorkers agreed.
"As long as they're socially distant and we're making sure to keep the numbers down inside, yeah, it would be great," Upper West Side resident Samantha Lasry said.
"I hope that more people get the vaccine and the city can come back and be rewarded for all of the big sacrifices we made," added Upper West Side resident Angela Vitaliano.
The 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants and the 12 a.m. curfew for catered events remain in effect. Both will be evaluated later this month.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifted the latest rules, but Mayor Bill de Blasio said he's not a fan of easing restrictions.
"Of course I'm concerned about the pace of reopening, and we need to get it right," he said Monday. "There have been some decisions the state has made that I believe were a mistake.
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Meanwhile in New Jersey, COVID vaccine eligibility is expanding Monday to more groups, including anyone 55 and older, people 16 and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and more frontline essential workers.
"Our workers in the retail financial sector... workers at laundromats and dry cleaning businesses... construction workers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and property management and maintenance workers," said Gov. Phil Murphy.
Librarians, higher education staff, IT and communications, public utility and sanitation workers are also eligible.
Starting Tuesday, New Yorkers 16 and older can sign up for vaccine appointments. Nearly 20% of the state's population is already fully vaccinated, and the same goes for New Jersey.