There's been no indication that New York state has plans to move beyond its current Phase 4 plans, but Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a few updates today that could be considered a move toward Phase 4.5. Starting Monday, bowling alleys around the state will be open again with new rules, and starting August 24th, museums and aquariums will be allowed to bring visitors back indoors. Additionally, the state will announce new guidelines on gyms on Monday.

Starting August 17th, bowling alleys will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity. Every other lane will be closed, groups must stay in the lane they're bowling in, and establishments have to have disinfecting protocols in place for shared equipment. Outside of the city, food and alcohol can be brought to the groups directly, but due to restrictions on indoor dining, food and beverage service will not be allowed in NYC bowling alleys.

Cuomo also announced that museums, aquariums, other "low-risk cultural arts" will be allowed to reopen to the public indoors starting August 24th at 25% maximum occupancy. They will be expected to have pre-set staggered entries, require face coverings, and be able to control traffic flow.

Over the last month, several museums have announced tentative plans to reopen in late August and early September in the hopes that the state would allow it by then. The Met previously announced it would officially reopen to the public starting on August 29th.

As with the New-York Historical Society and The Museum Of The City Of New York (MCNY), which have both also announced they are reopening in the coming weeks, there will be safety precautions and changes to The Met's usual schedule. The museum will initially be open five days a week from Thursday through Monday. On Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will offer later hours on Thursdays and Fridays and be open from noon to 7 p.m. They add that The Met Cloisters will reopen sometime in September.

As for safety precautions, The Met has come up with their safety procedures in accordance with the guidelines from the CDC, the state and the city. In addition limiting the number of visitors at one time to 25 percent of the museum's maximum capacity, that includes enhanced cleaning procedures and requiring all staff and visitors to wear face coverings inside the museum. Everyone who enters the building will be asked to practice social distancing of at least six feet, and there will be hand sanitizing stations throughout.

No printed materials (including maps) will be available on site (but you can download them in advance of going). There will be additional signage reminding people of the rules and how to navigate the galleries. You can read the complete list of guidelines and recommendations on The Met's website.

Cuomo also announced that this Monday, New York will release "reopening guidelines" for gyms. On Thursday, Gothamist reported that a group of over 1,500 gym owners from across the state, including at least 500 located in NYC, filed a class action lawsuit against Cuomo and the state to allow them to reopen. In addition to getting gyms reopened immediately, they also are looking for compensation for lost revenue over recent months.

There's been no indications of any changes on the state's rules on indoor dining, which was supposed to reopen in early July but has been indefinitely postponed. Read more here on the state's ongoing crackdown on indoor dining, and the State Liquor Authority's work behind-the-scenes to process violations.