ALBANY, N.Y. — Entertainment businesses and professional sports will reopen in Upstate New York this Friday, June 26, according to a statement from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued on Wednesday, June 24. Businesses in New York have gradually reopened over the last few weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic has slowly eased across the state, with regions including Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier now on track to enter Phase IV of the governor’s reopening plan. As part of this phase of the plan, social gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed and professional sports will be played without fans.
As the state nears a complete reopening of its economy, the combined state governments of the Tri-State region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have agreed to impose 14-day quarantines on visitors from states with a 10 percent infection rate, Cuomo said on Wednesday. Other businesses cleared to reopen include performing arts, film and TV production and higher education. As of June 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 391,000 cases of COVID-19 across the state of New York, and more than 30,000 deaths.