New York Starts Second Step of Reopening
2020-06-23
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1For the first time in three months, New Yorkers will be able to eat at restaurants again-but only at tables outside.
2New York City entered the second of four planned phases of reopening on Monday.
3New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he considers the step the biggest in terms of economic importance.
4In addition, people in New York City will be able to go to stores.
5They also will be able to get their hair cut and children can go to playgrounds.
6People also may begin to return to work.
7Eighty-nine-year-old Larry Silverstein is pleased.
8The developer of the World Trade Center leads Silverstein Properties.
9He returned to work on Monday along with about one-third of the company's workers.
10Fewer people in the office means they will be able to keep their distance.
11And everyone must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of the virus.
12Silverstein was pleased to return to work because, he said, teamwork brings "a joy, a fulfillment, such a sense of being able to function."
13Some say the coronavirus makes office work more difficult or impossible, but Silverstein disagrees.
14"I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan," he said.
15He added that he believed New York would come back "bigger and better than before."
16But others are not so sure.
17Alex Michaels may return to a retail job soon.
18He worries about coming in contact with the virus when working with the public.
19Michaels, who is 30 years old, said he agrees returning to normal is important for the economy.
20But he worries there could be "a high price to pay."
21Eve Gonzalez works in the food industry.
22The 27-year-old has not returned to work.
23She believes it is too soon to relax restrictions.
24"I'm dying to go out, but people's health is more important," she said.
25The new coronavirus is blamed for more than 22,000 deaths in New York City.
26Officials there say between 200 and 400 new infections are still reported every day.
27New Yorkers are now able to dine in outdoor eating areas.
28That is important for Melba Wilson.
29She has a restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood.
30She is also president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, an industry group.
31She said, "We talk about being physically distant, which is important, but being socially active is important, as well."
32Retailers like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue also are reopening with virus-safety measures.
33For now, face products will not be offered for trial in stores.
34And clothing that has been tried on will be held for 24 hours before it is returned for possible sale. Face coverings are required.
35Kathy Hilt is an area vice president for Macy's.
36She said the goal is to make people feel at ease and safe.
37Many of the city's biggest corporations are still operating remotely.
38Only about five percent of Citi's 13,300 bank employees in New York City are expected to come back to their offices on July 1, the Associated Press reports.
39For many employees, work-from-home agreements remain in place.
40Companies are expected to carefully move forward with a return to work.
41However, the city estimates that 150,000 to 300,000 people will have returned to their workplace on Monday.
42William Rogers works in retail, like many others returning to their jobs this week.
43The 29-year-old said the last three months have not been easy.
44"A lot of us have gotten time to reflect on our own lives," Rogers said.
45"That's one blessing."
46I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1For the first time in three months, New Yorkers will be able to eat at restaurants again-but only at tables outside. 2New York City entered the second of four planned phases of reopening on Monday. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he considers the step the biggest in terms of economic importance. 3In addition, people in New York City will be able to go to stores. They also will be able to get their hair cut and children can go to playgrounds. People also may begin to return to work. 4Eighty-nine-year-old Larry Silverstein is pleased. 5The developer of the World Trade Center leads Silverstein Properties. He returned to work on Monday along with about one-third of the company's workers. Fewer people in the office means they will be able to keep their distance. And everyone must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of the virus. 6Silverstein was pleased to return to work because, he said, teamwork brings "a joy, a fulfillment, such a sense of being able to function." 7Some say the coronavirus makes office work more difficult or impossible, but Silverstein disagrees. 8"I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan," he said. 9He added that he believed New York would come back "bigger and better than before." 10But others are not so sure. 11Alex Michaels may return to a retail job soon. He worries about coming in contact with the virus when working with the public. 12Michaels, who is 30 years old, said he agrees returning to normal is important for the economy. But he worries there could be "a high price to pay." 13Eve Gonzalez works in the food industry. The 27-year-old has not returned to work. She believes it is too soon to relax restrictions. 14"I'm dying to go out, but people's health is more important," she said. 15The new coronavirus is blamed for more than 22,000 deaths in New York City. Officials there say between 200 and 400 new infections are still reported every day. 16A city opens up carefully 17New Yorkers are now able to dine in outdoor eating areas. That is important for Melba Wilson. She has a restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood. She is also president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, an industry group. She said, "We talk about being physically distant, which is important, but being socially active is important, as well." 18Retailers like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue also are reopening with virus-safety measures. For now, face products will not be offered for trial in stores. And clothing that has been tried on will be held for 24 hours before it is returned for possible sale. Face coverings are required. 19Kathy Hilt is an area vice president for Macy's. She said the goal is to make people feel at ease and safe. 20Many of the city's biggest corporations are still operating remotely. Only about five percent of Citi's 13,300 bank employees in New York City are expected to come back to their offices on July 1, the Associated Press reports. 21For many employees, work-from-home agreements remain in place. Companies are expected to carefully move forward with a return to work. 22However, the city estimates that 150,000 to 300,000 people will have returned to their workplace on Monday. 23William Rogers works in retail, like many others returning to their jobs this week. The 29-year-old said the last three months have not been easy. 24"A lot of us have gotten time to reflect on our own lives," Rogers said. "That's one blessing." 25I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 26Jennifer Peltz reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 27________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29phase -n. a step in a process, one part of a series of related actions 30function -v. to work or operate correctly or in the required way 31retail -n. the business of selling things directly to people who buy and use them 32relax -v. to be at ease, to become less tense 33remotely -adv. from a distance, from a place that is not nearby