NYC cleared to reopen zoos, play ball; museums stay shut

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City was cleared Friday to take the next step in its reopening next week, allowing movie and TV crews to film, zoos to welcome reduced crowds, professional sports teams to play to empty seats. Visitors are set to return to the island that houses the Statue of Liberty — but not the statue itself.

But malls, museums and restaurant dining rooms will stay shuttered in the nation's biggest city.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the city is set to begin a limited version of the fourth phase of the statewide reopening process starting Monday. But he warned that New York's progress is fragile as COVID-19 cases surge elsewhere in the country.

“I feel like we're standing on a beach and we're looking out at the sea and we see the second wave building in the distance, so I want all New Yorkers to be on high alert,” the Democratic governor told reporters during a telephone briefing.

New York City, which has seen the bulk of the state's confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, began reopening June 8, after the rest of the state.

In the city’s scaled-down Phase 4, botanical gardens and zoos can reopen at 33% capacity, production of movies and TV shows can proceed and professional sports such as baseball can be played without fans in the stands, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Major League Baseball plans to start a shortened season this coming Thursday, with the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals hosting the New York Yankees, and the Los Angeles Dodgers welcoming the rival San Francisco Giants. The rest of the league joins the fray July 24.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service announced that the grounds of Liberty Island would reopen to visitors Monday after being closed since March 16. But there’s no reopening date yet for Lady...