De Blasio Expects NYC Will Begin Reopening in Next Two Weeks

(Bloomberg) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he is confident his city will begin reopening within the next two weeks.

“The subways are the most important piece of the equation,” de Blasio said Friday at a press briefing. The city and the state Metropolitan Transportation Authority have to “figure out a way not just to keep the subways clean, but how to impose limits on social distancing,” he said.

“We are still not getting the answers we need from the MTA,” de Blasio said.

New York City is the only one of 10 state regions still on lockdown. The city had met just four of seven metrics required by the state to reopen as of May 27. It has less than 30% of hospital beds and intensive-care beds available, and needs more contact tracers.

The mayor has estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 people will be returning to work in construction, manufacturing, wholesale and curbside retail during the first phase of reopening.

De Blasio also said he’s confident the state will give the city expanded borrowing power in June, after revenue losses from the coronavirus.

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