Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Coronavirus: NYC won't start 'to get back to normal' until July or August, mayor says

‘The light at the end of the tunnel is later on in the summer’

James Crump
Thursday 16 April 2020 22:47 BST
Comments
De Blasio says NYC won't be back to normal until July or August

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has said that the city won’t get back to normal until July or August, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo extended the stay-at-home order for the state until 15 March.

Mr Cuomo was unable to say what will happen once the extended order finishes, and said that “we will see depending on what the data shows.”

During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, Mr de Blasio said he doesn’t think the city will be back to normal until July at the earliest.

He said that he didn’t want to give the people of New York false hope that they will be able to gather in large groups from 15 May onwards.

Mr de Blasio said that if people obey the stay-at-home order, then it is possible that the city can go back to normal before the end of the summer.

“But the light at the end of the tunnel is later on in the summer, as we go into the fall, we can get it right. But [it will take] a lot of discipline,” he said.

Mr de Blasio added that “July, August are the months where we have to begin to get back to normal.”

Google’s dedicated coronavirus page shows that New York State has upwards of 222,284 confirmed cases and at least 14,636 deaths.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 654,301 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 31,628.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in