Some remote regions of New York state are to begin a gradual reopening on Friday, while the stay-at-home order has been extended for pandemic-stricken New York City.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is allowing vast areas of central and northern New York state that have been largely spared the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak to restart parts of their economy.
But late on Thursday, Cuomo extended the stay-at-home order for New York City, the epicentre of the pandemic in the United States - one of the hardest-hit places in the world - with more than 20,000 confirmed and probable virus-related deaths.
The city and other regions that have not met key requirements, including declines in hospitalizations and deaths, increases in testing and hospital capacity, are to remain shut down until May 28.
In a tweet announcing the executive order, Cuomo said those areas could reopen "the moment they hit their benchmarks."
The dense city and its suburbs are likely to be the last places in the state to start returning to some semblance of normal.
The regions that have met the state's seven criteria - Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes, North Country and Southern Tier - are allowed to start reopening some non-essential businesses, including construction, manufacturing and pick-up retail.
The second phase of Cuomo's reopening plan includes professional services and more retail.
Restaurants, bars and hotels come next, followed by arts and entertainment, such as New York's famous Broadway, in the final phase.
Other US states are moving more quickly to reopen their economies, amid warnings from health officials of a resurgence of the virus if restrictions are eased too soon.
