NYC Postpones Indoor Dining

New York – New York City is expected to enter Phase 3 of reopening on Monday, July 6, but due to concerns about the risk of spreading the virus, indoor dining in NYC will be postponed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

“As we see states across the country that have opted to reopen indoor dining experience upticks in the infection rate, we want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen in New York. And at this point, we can’t rely on citizen compliance or local enforcement alone to manage the risk. The safest option is to postpone indoor dining in NYC.  We need to continue to reopen based on facts and data—and we will be diligent and cautious. We will not risk the enormous progress New York has made.”

1. New York State will expand its testing criteria to all New Yorkers statewide. New York conducts more tests per capita than any big country in the world and we now have the capacity to expand the testing criteria. Any New Yorker can go to any of the State’s 750+ testing sites and get a test at no cost.   2. New York State will create an enforcement effort to supplement local enforcement of COVID-19 guidance and restrictions. It’s important that local governments enforce compliance of the safety protocols in place. If citizens slip and local governments don’t comply, we’ll find ourselves back on the mountain and we want to avoid that.   3. Six major retailers are requiring customers to wear face coverings while shopping at their stores nationwide. The retailers are: Costco, C-Town, Gristedes and D’Agostino, Stop & Shop and Whole Foods.   4. The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to drop. Total hospitalizations fell to 879, from 891 the day before. Sadly we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus yesterday.   5. Yesterday, the State conducted 56,710 tests. Only 625 tests, or 1.1%, were positive.    Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Buffalo Zoo’s Roary the Lion is moving to a new home at the Columbus Zoo. While Buffalo Zoo patrons will no doubt miss Roary, he is joining a female lion named Kazi with hopes they will start a family. The move was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan. The Buffalo Zoo reopens on July 2, 2020. (A Press Statement from the office of Gov. Cuomo; Featured photo – an outdoor restaurant in France uses large teddy bears to maintain social distancing.)