Cuomo lifts statewide shutdown

<p>Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that some regions in New York were ready to end the stay at home orders starting Friday, lifting state-wide stay-at-home orders for the first time.</p><p>Cuomo, who noted that New York is looking at reopening under the qualifications provided by the federal government, said localities could adhere to the May 15 reopening. Those areas are in the northern part of the state and include the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier which includes Binghamton, Ithaca, Elmira as well as the Mohawk Valley.</p><p>“This is the next big step in this historic journey,” Cuomo said. “We’re now on the other side of the mountain… Let’s just remember where we were before we take the step forward.”</p><p>While this signals that New Yorkers could possibly get back to work, other regions of the state have not yet met requirements for reopening, which include a 14-day decline in deaths and new COVID-19 cases, and increased testing and contract tracing.</p>