The Democratic governor said Friday that restaurants and bars may remain open until 11 p.m., starting Sunday. The state catering industry has pushed to loosen the previous limit, which was at 10 p.m.
“Loosening the curfew will allow operators to comfortably sit guests at nine in the evening and generate businesses that had previously been cut,” said Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New State Restaurant Association York.
The announcement comes after it was said earlier this week that New York City restaurants could reopen the indoor dining room with a 25% capacity starting Friday to go along with the existing outdoor dining rooms. Inner eating had been banned since mid-December, when COVID-19 cases began to increase.
RELATED: Where can you get a COVID-19 vaccine? Monitoring availability and progress
Cuomo had said industry groups representing restaurateurs had called for the ban on indoor food to be lifted in February to let them charge on Valentine’s Day. It has also allowed New York City and counties across the state to vaccinate restaurant workers, though many county executives say they lack supply.
“If we keep infections low and vaccines up, we will continue to advance in the race against this invisible enemy,” Cuomo said.
While loosening restrictions is a step in the right direction for many bars and restaurants, some are wondering if it’s too late.
“We are currently allowed to have 18.5 people inside and that will not pay the rent, will not pay for electricity and will not pay the staff,” said Lauren Brie Lynch, owner of the bar and restaurant.
As gastronomic restrictions in New York City eased on Friday, parts of the city saw signs of hikes: the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island have made an average of 2,580 new cases each day for the seven days through Thursday. . This is an increase of 16% over the previous seven days.
Cuomo announced this week that large indoor and outdoor stadiums and stadiums can be reopened with 10% capacity, despite public health experts ’concern about the safety of large indoor meetings where people can talk and eat out loud. He said the state will allow up to 150 guest weddings with COVID-19 tests before March 15, although counties and wedding venues are still awaiting state guidance.
RELATED: NYC announces middle school date to reopen face-to-face learning
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that the state’s daily COVID positivity rate fell to 3.46%, the lowest since Nov. 25. The state’s 7-day average positivity rate also fell to 3.90%, marking the first time the rate has dropped from 4% since November. 30.
In addition, the state also reported a drop in hospitalizations to 6,888. Unfortunately, 125 deaths were reported.
State health officials said New York has seen a general drop in cases since the mid-January rise, but warn that COVID-19 is still widespread. More than half a million people have tested positive so far this year in New York, while hospitals and nursing homes have reported nearly 6,700 people dead.
“People don’t necessarily think they understand the amount of COVID we saw in the fall and winter of last year, and how bad we still are,” said Byron Backenson, acting director of the Office of Communicable Diseases of the United States. New York State Department of Health. , said Thursday in an online debate with state health care providers.
New York now has the second highest number of new COVID-19 cases per capita in the last seven days in the nation, which is only found in South Carolina, according to data collected by The Associated Press.
And while much of the nation sees double-digit falls in new COVID-19 cases, New York is among the 12 states where the seven-day average of new cases is roughly flat compared to seven days ago, according to The COVID Tracking Project.
Cuomo has stressed that New York numbers reflect that he is doing more testing than any other state. New York has reported the fifth highest level of test results per 100,000 residents, according to AP data, and the second highest number of test results after California.
READ ALSO | How restaurants find new life in “ghost kitchens”
CLICK for more information on scheduled appointments in New York or New Jersey starting Sunday.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
New York City COVID-19 Vaccine Follower
New Jersey COVID-19 Vaccine Follower
Find out if you are eligible and where you can get the vaccine
Do you have symptoms of coronavirus?
Where to test in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
SEE: eyewitness to a pandemic
Coronavirus Disease Control and Prevention Centers
Submit a tip or news question
Copyright © 2021 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.