The impact of COVID-19 on New York City has gradually eased compared to the days of lockdown. As of late July, daily new cases have dropped below 100, and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s early response is widely seen as a success both by New Yorkers and across the United States.
How New York is recovering from COVID-19 (as of July 30)
The pandemic hit New York especially hard as a global tourist city, with unemployment surpassing 10% and many restaurants and hotels forced to close. The state introduced a phased reopening plan, and by July 20 had reached Phase 4 of five stages. As in many countries, New York continues to navigate how to balance public health and economic recovery day by day.
New York tourism today – local insights from travel experts
Tourist attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building reopened with limited capacity on July 20, while the Top of the Rock observation deck announced its reopening for August 6.Restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn have resumed business with strict safety measures, and outdoor dining has become a common sight throughout the city. Still, many businesses face financial challenges, operating with shorter hours or fewer days to stay afloat.
Interestingly, new businesses are emerging in the places of those that closed, giving parts of the city a sense of renewal. For example, the popular bookstore The Strand opened a new location in the Upper West Side where another shop had recently closed.
New York is still on its way back to being the “city that never sleeps,” but it’s encouraging to see life slowly returning to its streets.
Broadway musicals set to reopen on January 4, 2021
As the city’s attractions gradually reopen, Broadway has announced plans to resume performances on January 4, 2021 (as of July 30, 2020). Theater productions, where performers and audiences share the same space, face unique challenges in setting new safety guidelines, so reopening has taken longer than other venues.Still, the thought of musicals returning to Broadway fills us with excitement. Everyone here is counting down the days until the curtain rises again.
Protests and public safety during the pandemic
In May 2020, protests erupted across the city following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Some demonstrations turned violent, leading to curfews in early June. By July, large protests had subsided, and by July 22 the final protest encampment near City Hall had been cleared, restoring calm to the streets.For those of us working in New York’s travel industry, this timing—though unfortunate—happened while tourism was already paused due to the pandemic, sparing visitors from potential disruption.
Balancing safety and tourism in New York City
Even after direct flights between Tokyo and Newark resumed in June, international tourism has yet to return. By late July, Japan was reporting a second wave of infections, and New York—usually packed with travelers during summer—remains quiet.Still, we recently received our first optional tour booking for October, and our team is thrilled. We are taking every precaution to ensure visitors can safely enjoy the world’s greatest city once again.
While no one knows exactly what travel will look like in the new “with COVID” era, one thing remains certain: as long as New York continues to inspire travelers, our local team will be here to help make their trips memorable.
New York remains the world’s greatest city for travelers
The pandemic has taken away many of the things we once took for granted—but it has also reminded us what truly matters. New York is, and always will be, the world’s greatest destination.From the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building to Times Square, Central Park, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, every landmark tells a story. And in this small island of Manhattan, you’ll also find the 9/11 Memorial, the High Line, Hudson Yards, and Chelsea Market—all within easy reach.
Broadway offers its own lineup of masterpieces: The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, The Lion King, Aladdin, and newer hits like Hamilton, Hadestown, Mean Girls, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Moulin Rouge, Six, Tina, and West Side Story. Each one offers something special for every visitor.
As we mentioned in our previous update, our team is committed to supporting travelers as long as New York continues to inspire them. If you’re thinking about visiting once international travel resumes, explore our musical pages to find the perfect Broadway show for your trip.Each performance is introduced from a visitor’s perspective, making it easy to choose what to see. If you’d like to know the latest local updates, feel free to contact us through our main site, At New York. Our local team will be happy to help.
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