More people can soon start heading back to the office, the gym, sporting events and concerts as capacity limits start to increase in New York. Beginning May 15, casinos and gyms will rise to 50% capacity; and on May 19 large outdoor venues will be allowed 33%.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced spectator capacity at large-scale outdoor event venues, including professional and collegiate sports and live performing arts and entertainment, will increase from 20 to 33 percent beginning May 19.

Museums and zoos started allowing more visitors with capacity limits increasing to 50% while local movie theaters started operating at 33% on Monday, April 26. The same day Governor Cuomo announced the New York State Fair would happen this year at 50%. It'll run 18 days from August 20 - September 6.

May 15 Capacity Increases:

  • Gyms and fitness centers outside of New York City will increase from 33% to 50% capacity.
  • Casinos and gaming facilities will increase from 25% to 50% capacity.
  • Offices will increase from 50% to 75% capacity.

State health and safety protocols remain in effect. So we'll still have to wear the dang masks we're all sick of, stay 6 feet apart and undergo health screenings.

"We are making tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19 — our vaccination rates are going up and the positivity and hospitalization rates are going down, so now we are going to open the valves of our economy even further," Governor Cuomo said. "We are not out of the woods yet. Washing hands, wearing masks and staying socially distanced are critical tools each of us can use to slow the spread as we continue our efforts to defeat COVID once and for all."

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of 41,849 in New York State.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

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