Interior government will resume in New York City on Friday, Feb. 12, two days ahead of schedule, Governor Cuomo announced Monday morning.
Cuomo announced on Jan. 29 that it would allow restaurants to welcome diners back inside on Valentine’s Day with a 25% capacity.
The industry backed down and wondered why they had to wait so long and why they couldn’t reopen on Friday, February 12th to make the most of the long holiday weekend.
Restaurant owners have also filed lawsuits against Cuomo and the state, claiming they remained unfairly closed when other parts of the state and the country were able to reopen.
On Monday, Cuomo said COVID numbers in the city had finally dropped low enough for indoor dining halls to reopen.
He also unveiled “NY Pops Up” – a plan to start reopening the art with 300 free pop-up events featuring celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Jackman.
The first of these events is on February 20 at the Javits Center and is a tribute concert to health workers.
This is how New Yorkers have been eating at restaurants since Dec. 14, when Cuomo finished eating indoors after allowing it for months because COVID cases dragged on after Thanksgiving.
New York City has consistently had lower test positivity rates than other parts of the state and Manhattan has the lowest number in any district
It is unclear if there will be an audience for this event.
“We’ll start with pop-ups and then move on to reopening test-tested premises,” he said.
The events will take place from February through the summer, he said, and will “pave the way” to definitely reopen Broadway and other venues.
Cuomo used the Buffalo Bills playoff game, where he allowed 7,000 fans to enter a stadium after doing quick first tests of COVID, as proof of his performance.
‘There were 7,000 people and there was no evidence of an increase in outreach through contact tracking.
“The stadium was outdoors, but there were 7,000 people and if it can be reopened through testing, move on to the next step,” he said sadly.
Weddings of up to 150 people can also be resumed in March, as long as everyone tries COVID first.
On Monday, the New York Hospitality Alliance welcomed the news.
‘We congratulate Governor Cuomo for allowing the interior dining room to resume in New York City on Friday, rather than Sunday, the date originally planned.
“This will allow restaurants to generate much-needed revenue with Valentine’s Day weekend businesses, much of which they would have lost because the holidays fall on a Sunday this year.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that restaurants could reopen indoor dining halls soon after being criticized by the industry and after restaurant owners filed lawsuits
“Advanced openness and better health metrics are good news for the city’s improper restaurant industry and for lovers,” chief executive Andrew Rigie told DailyMail.com on Monday.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the news.
“Brooklyn restaurants and industry workers survive by a thread, and with COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations dwindling across the city, we support Governor Cuomo’s decision to increase the safe reopening of meals highly regulated interiors with 25% occupancy until Friday before Valentine’s Day.
“Many Brooklynites will now be able to celebrate the holidays at a restaurant early in the weekend, providing a few days in advance for small businesses and workers struggling to earn a little more money to support themselves and their families, ”explains Randy Peers, Brooklyn. The president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce told DailyMail.com.
Cuomo allowed food indoors in any other part of the state months ago, although New York City’s test positivity rate has been consistently low compared to other cities.
In Manhattan, the district with the most restaurants and bars per square mile, it’s been lower for months than anywhere else in the city.
His only justification for keeping restaurants closed was that Manhattan has a dense population where infections can spread more quickly.
But he refused to give details to restaurant owners when they asked for it. On Monday, the test positivity rate in Manhattan was 3.48%. In the Bronx, it was 7%.