New York Mayor de Blasio expects by July 1 city's COVID restrictions lifted, fully reopened

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday that he expects the city's COVID-19 restrictions lifted and the city to be "fully reopen" by July 1.

"We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength," de Blasio said on MSNBC, according to The Associated Press.

The mayor said that with rising vaccination rates in the city, it should be safe by summer for New York City to return to a somewhat normal state.

"This is going to be the summer of New York City," the Democrat mayor said. "We are all going to get to enjoy this city again, and people are going to flock here from all over the country to be a part of this amazing moment."