Cuomo says construction and manufacturing could re-start in phases, based on regional decline in hospitalizations

Will Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park construction, and other projects paused, re-start? Not immediately.

A press release yesterday suggested potential progress, Amid Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Outlines Phased Plan to Re-open New York Starting With Construction and Manufacturing:

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today outlined a phased plan to re-open New York and re-imagine a new normal for the state starting with construction and manufacturing. The plan will be implemented in phases and will be based on regional analysis and determinations. Based on CDC recommendations, once a region experiences a 14-day decline in the hospitalization rate they may begin a phased re-opening. The State is closely monitoring the hospitalization rate, the infection rate and the number of positive antibody tests, as well as the overall public health impact, and will make adjustments to the plan and other decisions based on these indicators.
Phase one will include opening construction and manufacturing functions with low risk.

The city's data suggests a peak of hospitalizations on 4/6/20, with 1,736 hospitalizations, and then a general pattern of decline to below 400 in the past week.

Still, as Politico reported, Cuomo said, “Downstate New York is going to be more complicated.”

Work at the B4 and B15 sites of Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park was shutting down as of the end of March, as I reported. Surely a re-start depends not just on guidance from the state but also the input of contractors, subcontractors, unions, and materials suppliers, all of which are part of a system.

Will sports come back?

From Cuomo's announcement:

Phase two will open certain industries based on priority and risk level. Businesses considered "more essential" with inherent low risks of infection in the workplace and to customers will be prioritized, followed by other businesses considered "less essential" or those that present a higher risk of infection spread. As the infection rate declines, the pace of reopening businesses will be increased.
The region must not open attractions or businesses that would draw a large number of visitors from outside the local area.

The latter surely argues against mass gatherings, though Cuomo mused about fan-free baseball, as Politico reported.