New York City residents are venting their fury after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced bowling alleys can reopen from Monday where people wi...
New York City residents are venting their fury after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced bowling alleys can reopen from Monday where people will be allowed to eat inside, while gyms and indoor dining must remain closed.
Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters Friday that the city can reopen bowling alleys at 50 percent capacity from August 17 with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
Staff and visitors must wear face masks, every other lane must stay closed, and sites must have cleaning protocols in place especially for shared equipment, the governor said.
The announcement came as part of plans to get 'low-risk cultural activities' back up and running in the Big Apple as the former virus epicenter continues to bring the outbreak under control.
New York City residents are venting their fury after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced bowling alleys can reopen from Monday where people will be allowed to eat inside, while gyms and indoor dining must remain closed. Pictured Bowlmor Bob in NYC
New York City museums, aquariums and other cultural events will also be able to reopen from August 24 at 25 percent capacity.
Visitors will be required to book timed tickets in advance so entry to the facilities is staggered and face masks must be worn at all times.
The state will also announce reopening guidelines for the city's gyms - which have now been shut for five months - on Monday.
The latest reopening plans come as Cuomo boasted about New York's 'fantastic' progress made in tackling the pandemic.
The city has reported a coronavirus positivity rate of less than 1 percent for seven straight days - a far cry from the crisis point in April when almost 600 people died in a single day.
'That is fantastic. On the numbers, it's been extraordinary, congratulations to all New Yorkers,' Cuomo said Friday.
Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters Friday that the city can reopen bowling alleys at 50 percent capacity from August 17 with COVID-19 safety protocols in place
The announcement came as part of plans to get 'low-risk cultural activities' back up and running in the Big Apple as the former virus epicenter continues to bring the outbreak under control
However, not everyone shared Cuomo's enthusiasm about his latest reopening plans, with several frustrated New Yorkers taking to social media to voice outrage and confusion over the new rules.
Many people took particular objection to the decision to reopen bowling alleys - where visitors borrow shoes from the facility and share bowling balls with several other people.
'So bowling alleys where yall are sticking your slimey fingers into the same shared balls are good but gyms aren't?' one person tweeted.
Another wrote: 'Who wants to stick their fingers in bowling balls....yuck!! Byob.'
'I’d prefer to wear a mask to the gym at 50% capacity than go bowling to shove my feet & hands in shoes and a ball used by other people,' another tweeted.
'The ignorance of gyms against the outcry is actually now really disappointing by a state administration that has done a good job.'
Many people took particular objection to the decision to reopen bowling alleys - where visitors borrow shoes from the facility and share bowling balls with several other people
'Bowling alleys but not indoor dining or a 9/11 memorial,' tweeted another person.
'I love my dude Cuomo but this is just ridiculous.'
Others questioned the decision to give bowling alleys the green light to serve food inside while cash-strapped restaurants remain crippled by a ban on indoor dining.
'So wait, you're saying indoor dining is safe if it is at bowling alley but not at restaurants? Do the bowling balls scare covid away??' one person asked.
'So you can go in a museum and bowl in a bowling alley but still no word on if people can dine indoors. Cuomo and Diblasio [sic] need to go,' tweeted another.
Others questioned the decision to give bowling alleys the green light to serve food inside while cash-strapped restaurants remain crippled by a ban on indoor dining
The city's residents endured one of the longest lockdowns nationwide and countless businesses fell into disrepair.
Gyms and fitness facilities have been closed for five months after being forced to shutter back in March when stay-at-home orders were issued.
The city's bars and restaurants finally reopened in June but were limited to outdoor dining to slow the spread of the virus - a move that has drastically limited their ability to claw back business after three months of closures.
And, on Friday, just hours before Cuomo gave bowling alleys the green light, the city's annual 9/11 memorial light installation was canceled amid fears over the pandemic.
This marks the first year the tribute has been axed since it began the year after the 2001 attacks, where hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
More than 18,000 New Yorkers have been killed by COVID-19 and more than 225,000 have been infected.
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