New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that the remaining COVID-19 related restrictions in the state can be removed. The announcement comes as 70% of the population has been administered with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

He said, “We have hit 70% vaccination. It is the national goal, and we hit it ahead of schedule. What does 70% mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know”, reported AFP.

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Series of fireworks will be set off in the state in celebration of removing the curbs and as a gesture of gratitude towards the frontline workers of the pandemic. The fireworks show is scheduled for 9:15 pm local time.

In a tweet, Cuomo said that the state-mandated restrictions in the commercial and social settings will be removed “effective immediately”. 

Sectors associated with sports and recreations, manufacturing, retail, commercial businesses, social settings and construction will be experiencing excluded from the restrictions imposed in March earlier last year.

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He said, “We can get back to living. Businesses can open, because the state mandates are gone social gathering restrictions, the capacity restrictions the health screenings, the cleaning and disinfecting protocols”, reported CNBC.

The mask mandate would continue to remain in place for sensitive areas like hospitals and schools, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.