New York (AFP)

Savor in peace famous Monet, Van Gogh or Warhol: after almost six months of closure for pandemic, MoMA, famous New York museum of modern art, was Thursday the first large museum of the "big apple" to reopen its doors, to the delight of its rare visitors.

While major European museums like the Louvre have reopened for several weeks, New York museums have only been authorized to do so since this week. With a capacity limited to 25%, temperature controls at the entrance and strict distancing measures.

Under these conditions, and with a tourist sector at a standstill, only a few art lovers had reserved a time slot for this first day of reopening. But they were able to enjoy the many masterpieces in the 53rd Street Museum like never before.

For Alan Orenbuch, 66, retired, it was like a trip back in time.

"I like it when there are not too many people, when people do not talk and do not take a picture, all that is great", told AFP this regular.

"In recent years, the museum has attracted people who just wanted to tick a box on their list of things to do in New York, it wasn't the same ... It's kinda sad it took all of that to rediscover the experience of my youth ".

For now, MoMA is limited to hosting 100 people per hour, although it hopes to gradually increase this figure, said Sonya Shrier, in charge of visitor relations at the museum.

"It's a great time to visit the museum, there are fewer people, and it's also a great opportunity for visitors to come together without risk (..) in this difficult time," she said. added.

The reopening has been carefully prepared, and "it's really gratifying to see it implemented, to see the doors open and the visitors coming back," she said.

The largest of New York's museums, the Metropolitan Museum, will reopen on Saturday, and most other museums are scheduled to reopen by early October.

Hit hard in the spring by the coronavirus, with more than 23,600 dead, the American economic and cultural capital is now a model for controlling the epidemic, with a contamination rate around 1%.

But this metropolis, synonymous with hyperactivity and mass tourism is still idling, as the fear of a second wave is strong.

Many employees are still teleworking, the business districts are deserted, and many stores have still not reopened.

© 2020 AFP