Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island could reopen to visitors next week. Brian Thompson reports.
Liberty Island opens Monday as New York City enters Phase IV of the state's reopening plan, the National Park Service announced Friday.
Ellis Island, previously expected to open alongside Liberty Island, will remain closed, the NPS said.
"When we were notified that museums were excluded from Phase 4 of the state's reopening plan we quickly moved to adjust our reopening plan to delay the reopening of of the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration," Superintendent John Piltzecker said in a release.
The interior of the Statue of Liberty will stay closed, as well as the museum, until given the OK by the state. The outdoor spaces on Liberty Island will be open and accessible to the public, the NYS confirmed.
Social distancing markers and signs will be displayed and ferry capacity will be limited to encourage social distancing.
Also reopening next week: the Empire State Building Observatory.
The iconic landmarks have been closed since early March when New York City and the state shut down in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
