New York to Host Firework Displays Throughout State to Celebrate Lifting COVID Restrictions

 

     New York Harbor will host a fireworks show tonight, starting at 9:15pm, to celebrate Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s lifting of most of the COVID restrictions, such as social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing.

    Only 3-K, schools, public transit, and hospitals still must follow the federal guidance, as issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

     Gov. Cuomo removed most of the remaining COVID protocols in New York after reaching his goal of vaccinating 70% of the state’s residents.

     Tonight’s fireworks are not just an expression of the joy of the end of COVID, but the colorful displays are meant to honor the state’s essential workers for all of the selfless work they faithfully undertook throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Although the governor is working to continue to vaccinate everyone in the state, today he said, was cause for celebration.

     “We have more to do and more New Yorkers to vaccinate,” said Gov. Cuomo at what he said will be his very last COVID briefing, after holding them daily since last March. “But now is a time to celebrate.”

     In addition to the fireworks, the governor announced that in honor of New York reaching the 70% benchmark, which the state did weeks ahead of schedule, several iconic buildings around the city, such as the Empire State Building, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, One World Trade Center, the Grand Central Terminal: Pershing Square Viaduct, the MTA LIRR: East End Gateway at Penn Station, and the Kosciuszko Bridge, will be lit up with blue and yellow lights. 

    On July 7, Mayor Bill de Blasio is planning to throw a ticker tape parade to honor essential workers.