Fireworks Set Off Against Manhattan Skyline as New York Marks Vaccination Milestone

Fireworks were set off across the state of New York on Tuesday night, June 15, as New Yorkers celebrated a vaccination milestone and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that it would be “optional” for retail, food services, and other smaller indoor venues to follow guidelines on capacity restrictions, social distancing, and other restrictions as 70 percent of adult New Yorkers had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

The governor said restrictions were still in place for large-scale indoor venues and public transport and that unvaccinated adults would have to continue to wear a mask.

Cuomo said in a tweet the celebration was “for all the essential workers who showed up and helped get us to this day.”

This footage was filmed by Bee Costa. Credit: Bee Costa via Storyful