Queens Center Mall (Photo: Queens Post)
Sept. 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Shopping malls and casinos are allowed to reopen in New York City next week– after being closed for six months in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Malls and casinos are permitted to reopen on Wednesday, Sept. 9 on the condition that they have an adequate air filtration system in place, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
Malls, which have opened in all other regions of the state, can finally open in the five boroughs at 50 percent capacity. No indoor dining inside mall restaurants and food courts is permitted, however.
Stores that have separate entrances from the main mall entrance were already allowed to reopen.
Casinos, which have been closed in all 10 regions of the state, can open statewide at 25 percent of their maximum capacity. No table games or beverage service on the gaming floor is allowed, Cuomo said.
Employees and patrons of both malls and casinos must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing from others.
On Tuesday, Queens Sen. Joseph Addabbo, Chair of the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, had called on Cuomo to reopen casinos so that their employees could get back to work.
“It is truly unfortunate to see so many casino workers being laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Addabbo said. “Casinos across the state are suffering from the shutdown and they are being forced to lay off their furloughed workers.”
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One Comment
Casinos can open but indoor dining can’t. I know a lot of restaurant owners have had indoor dining and not been responsible in terms of people wearing masks and social distancing, but they are the not the majority of businesses. Open up the restaurants and if somebody doesn’t follow the rules, fine them. If people gather outside then the owners should call 911 and report it. The sidewalk is city property and the city should police it and fine those who are breaking covid laws.