“Just because it is opening doesn’t mean Covid-19 is over.”
This is a concept that not many people seem to grasp, taking the reopening and easing of restrictions as an excuse to step out and mingle, which is the last thing that the world needs right now.
New York City experienced the deadliest attacks of the Covid-19 in the United States but has now reopened since Monday. This is a turning point for the state following the crisis that they have been in for the last three months.
With the virus in control for now, stores that were previously categorised as non-essential now have the permission to be reopened for delivery and curbside pickup. The government still hasn’t allowed the customers browsing inside the stores yet.
“This is the place where it was going to be the hardest to make a comeback, and yet New York City is so strong and resilient, we are making that comeback,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
But, he has warned the citizens of the repercussions, asking them to be vigilant and not do something that would break down and jeopardize all the progress that has been made till now.
The unrest of the systemic racism and the protests that have been happening across US could further contribute to the challenges that the nation has been experiencing till now. The officials who have also faced issues regarding the economic and public woes are also experiencing pressure for police reform now.
New York was concluded as the epicentre of the virus in the US, with over 21,000 people dying in the state because of Covid-19.
During the peak of the disease, the state even experienced over 500 deaths in a day, during mid-April. According to the reports last week, the number of deaths in the state has come down to a single digit now.
Not just that, even the number of confirmed cases have fizzled down to 200-300 cases per day, which was around 6000 during the peak.
“All eyes will be on New York this next couple of months,” said urban policy expert Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future.
Bowles further said that the city now has to prove that they know what they are doing and has figured out the correct ways to prevent the resurgence of the virus, which could further contribute to an ill-fate that nobody wants or needs at this point.
Across the world, over 400,000 people have died because of Covid-19, with the numbers increasing every single day. The virus is still spreading like wildfire in some of the places in Brazil, which has reported over 34,000 deaths and stopped reporting the death toll last week because of the overwhelming response.
With the reopening of New York, people have come out of their homes on the street as the warm weather comes out. More restaurants have started takeouts. Thousands of people have come out on the streets to protest against the death of George Floyd.
The subway riders have also started going back up after experiencing a plunge because of the Covid-19 impacts.
But, the main question that people have been struggling with is the resurgence of the virus. As the state is reopening to get its economy up and rising, will that cause a spike in the virus cases?
“Months of social distancing, mask-wearing, hand-washing, shock and fear have made New Yorkers better prepared to keep the coronavirus under control,” said the health experts.
Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist, who suffered from Covid-19 himself back in March is afraid that the virus might spread rapidly during the protests happening in New York.
