New York is considering easing the lockdown measures as the state came up with its own antibody test. The test can help detect immunity in those who already recovered from coronavirus.

Governor Andrew Cuomo made it clear on Wednesday that facial coverings are obligatory for everyone using public transit or in stores, as the state is the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak in the US.

According to Cuomo’s plan, 2,000 people per day should be tested in New York, creating a possible ending of the lockdown in the weeks to come. The first ones to get tested are going to be the emergency workers and the first-responders.

Testing residents for the virus is crucial for controlling the further spread of the virus, as well as detecting and isolating the undetected cases. By controlling the current situation and testing people, there are more chances to recover from the economic downfall, according to government officials.

However, medical experts say that it is still unclear if recovered coronavirus patients can develop immunity. Even if that was the case, nobody knows for how long would that immunity protect people from getting reinfected.

COVID-19 took 752 more lives in the state of New York in the last 24 hours, and the total death rate since the beginning of the pandemic is over 11,000.

Cuomo announced he would sign a new decree requiring everyone wearing masks, especially the ones who don’t respect the social distancing rules or are unable to follow them. The mask decree would take effect in three days.