De Blasio Says NYC Is on Track to Enter Phase 4 on Monday

(Bloomberg) -- New York City is ready to enter the fourth and final phase of reopening Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Zoos, botanical gardens and outdoor movie production can resume, but indoor dining, museums and malls will remain closed, de Blasio said Friday at a press briefing. A formal announcement will come later from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the mayor said.

The two are in agreement on cautiously “opening the parts of our economy that we can do safely,” de Blasio said.

De Blasio said the state’s Open Restaurants program, which allows temporary outdoor dining, will be extended through October. The program, with participation from about 8,600 restaurants, also will be expanded to 40 more city street blocks, including in hard-hit Chinatown, the mayor said.

“Phase Four means a lot of people going back to work,” de Blasio said. “That just gives you a lot of hope.”

New York City is the last state region to enter Phase 4. Cuomo has reopened the state in regions and in phases.

On Thursday, Cuomo announced stepped-up violations and restrictions on restaurants, including a ban on stand-up bars. De Blasio said that while he respects Cuomo’s reopening decisions, he also appreciates the efforts people have made to keep their distance and comply with regulations.

“It’s quite clear that people take the virus seriously,” he said.

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