New York has lifted its remaining coronavirus restrictions after it hit Governor Andrew Cuomo's 70 percent partial vaccination target.

The Democrat said today that the milestone means an end to COVID rules on businesses and an opportunity to "return to life as we know it".

Effective immediately, the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow cleaning protocols or take people's temperatures or screen them for recent COVID symptoms.

Businesses will no longer have to follow social distancing rules, or limit how many people they can allow inside based on keeping people two metres apart.

Some rules will remain: New Yorkers, for now, will continue to have to wear masks in schools, subways, large venues, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and prisons.

"This is a momentous day - and we deserve it, because it has been a long, long road," he said, met with applause.

"It's a day to look backward and remember where we were, but also a day to look forward to where we're going."

(With input from agencies)