North Shore residents return to ‘normal’

We have to be really cognizant and respectful of people and our surroundings.”

Rob Mansfield: Owner, Grassroots

New York officially reached a milestone in the fight against the coronavirus last week, which has Sea Cliff and Glen Head residents breathing a sigh of relief. As of June 15, 70 percent of New Yorkers 18 and over had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. As a result, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that nearly all Covid restrictions would be lifted, including capacity limits, social-distancing guidelines and mask requirements in commercial settings.

“Not only do we have the lowest Covid positivity rate in the United States of America, we have hit 70 percent vaccination ahead of schedule,” Cuomo said. “The state mandates that have proven right and brought us through this pandemic are relaxed as of today, effective immediately.”

Now, concerts, sporting events and nightclubs can resume normal operations without enforcing capacity limits, social-distancing rules or vaccine passes, nor do they have to make people wear masks. Offices can resume operating at 100 percent capacity with no social distancing as well. New Yorkers must wear masks on public transportation, however, and in certain places like schools and nursing homes, whether or not they are vaccinated.

Long Island is well ahead of the vaccine rate threshold, with a 78 percent vaccination rate among adults. Sea Cliff, with a rate of 70 percent, is on par with New York as a whole.

Residents say they are excited to see the return of normal life after nearly 16 months in virtual lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“It’s great news,” said Suzanne Cohen, founder of North Shore Women’s Support and a mother of two. “I’m really happy. My family is on the West Coast, and when we went to visit them in California, I didn’t feel anxious about traveling like I thought I would. I’m really thrilled my kids will be going to summer camp without a mask, and they’re able to have in-person birthday parties again, not just drive-bys . . . It’s just nice to get to the point where we can kind of get back to normal.”

Local business owners greatly impacted by the pandemic are eager return to a sense of normalcy and pre-pandemic life.

“So far it looks like everyone is coming out again,” said Bill Long, owner of Metropolitan Bistro in Sea Cliff, “and they seem excited to be able to go out around town again.”

For restaurant owners like Long, a major change that was implemented was the limit on indoor dining capacity, which dramatically affected the number of patrons he could serve at a given time. “The best part in lifting the Covid guidelines is we don’t have to limit our customers to outdoor tables anymore,” Long said.

“We have a much higher occupancy indoors than outdoors, and when it rains we have somewhere for everyone to go. We can now fit up to 68 people indoors as opposed to the 22 we were allowed previously.”

Businesses are free to choose to lift all or some restrictions, continue to adhere to the state’s previous guidance or implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons. Some business owners have already said they plan to continue social-distancing guidelines and other Covid era practices even after the governor’s announcement last week.

“I’ve taken Covid extremely seriously, and plan to continue to do so,” said Rob Mansfield, owner of Grassroots in Glen Head. “I think physical health also entails mental health, and people have been really freaked out about Covid. As time has gone on, there still is a lot of fear regarding everything. We’ve been staying indoors for over a year now, and it can be scary to suddenly come back outside and go back to normal.”

Mansfield continues to require his staff to wear masks and has maintained a layout in his store that allows for six feet of social distance for patrons.

“Someone may be freaking out that no one is wearing a mask anymore,” Mansfield said. “If we can give them comfort by wearing one as well, why not help our customers feel safe while they shop. We have to be really cognizant and respectful of people and our surroundings, especially in this unprecedented time.”

“New Yorkers have done an incredible job beating back the virus, and thanks to their determination, we have been able to begin getting back to normal,” Cuomo said. “Every shot in the arm brings us a step closer to defeating Covid once and for all, and that’s why it’s so critical for everyone to get vaccinated.”