NYC To Throw Ticker Tape Parade For Health Workers, Mayor Says

NEW YORK, NY — New York City is a long way away from relaxing social distancing measures to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, but the city is already planning a huge parade to celebrate when that day comes, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.

When it's safe for New Yorkers to gather in large groups again the city will hold a ticker tape parade down the "Canyon of Heroes" to honor health care workers and first responders who risked their lives to help people during the coronavirus outbreak, de Blasio said during his Tuesday press briefing. The announcement came toward the end of de Blasio's prepared remarks, ending the press conference on a high note by saying "the day is coming when we will overcome this disease."

"When that day comes, that we can restart the vibrant, beautiful life of this city again, the first thing that we will do is that we will have a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes for our health care workers and our first responders. We will honor those who saved us," de Blasio said Tuesday.

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That day may not come for a while, according to city data.

The city's key indicators on the progress of social distancing showed mixed results, de Blasio said Tuesday. The number of people admitted to hospitals for suspected coronavirus decreased from 212 to 204, but people in city hospital ICUs and the percentage of people testing positive for the virus both increased, de Blasio said. There are now 857 coronavirus patients in intensive care compared to 853 before and 35% of people tested for the virus are positive, according to city data.

On Monday, de Blasio canceled all public events in New York City through the month of June — including the 50th Annual Pride Parade.

De Blasio said Tuesday that the ticker tape parade will signal a "rebirth" of New York City following its devastating outbreak of the coronavirus. New York City has lost 9,101 residents to confirmed coronavirus deaths, and potentially 4,582 more to "probable" virus deaths, according to the city Health Department.

"Many great heroes have gone down that canyon to be appreciated and loved by millions of New Yorkers but I think this will be the greatest of all parade because this one will speak to the rebirth of New York City," de Blasio said.

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