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Governor Cuomo Announces State Will End Food and
Beverage Service Curfew
Published: April 28, 2021 at 10:45 a.m.
By: Press Release from Governor Cuomo’s Office
Governor Cuomo
Announces State Will End Food and Beverage Service Curfew
Curfew Will Be
Removed for Outdoor Dining Areas Beginning May 17 and Indoor Areas
Beginning May 31
Curfew for
Catered Events Where Attendees Have Proof of Vaccination
Status or Negative COVID Test Result Will Be
Lifted Beginning May 17 and Curfew for All Catered Events
Lifted May 31
Catered Events
Can Resume at Residences Beginning May 3 in Accordance
with State's Reopening Guidelines
Seating Allowed
at Bars in New York City Beginning May 3
Governor Andrew
M. Cuomo today announced that the 12 a.m. food and beverage service
curfew will be lifted for outdoor dining areas beginning May 17 and for
indoor dining areas beginning May 31.
Governor Cuomo
also announced that the 1 a.m. curfew for catered events where
attendees have provided proof of vaccination status or
a recent negative COVID-19 test result will be
lifted beginning May 17, with the curfew for all catered events set to
be lifted May 31.
Additionally, the
Governor announced that catered events can resume at residences beginning
May 3 above the State's residential gathering limit of 10 people
indoors and 25 people outdoors, as long as the
events are staffed by a professional, licensed caterer, permitted by
the respective locality or municipality, and strictly
adhere to health and safety guidance, including social and
event gathering limits, masks, and social distancing. Also
on May 3, the guidance for dancing among attendees at catered
events will be aligned with neighboring states, replacing fixed dance
zones for each table with social distancing and masks.
Finally, the
Governor announced that starting May 3, seating at bars will be
allowed in New York City, consistent with the food services guidance that
is in effect statewide.
"We know
the COVID positivity rate is a function of our behavior, and over
the last year New Yorkers have remained disciplined and continued with the
practices we know work to stop the spread of the virus," Governor
Cuomo said. "Everything we've been doing is working - all the
arrows are pointing in the right direction and now we're able to increase
economic activity even more. Lifting these restrictions for restaurants,
bars and catering companies will allow these businesses that have been
devastated by the pandemic to begin to recover as we return to a new normal
in a post-pandemic world. To be clear: we will only be able to
maintain this progress if everyone gets the COVID vaccine. It is
the weapon that will will the war and
we need everyone to take it, otherwise we risk going backward."
This
announcement on food and beverage service and catered
events builds on the Governor's recent measures to further re-open the
economy amid a steady decline in New York's COVID-19 positivity and
hospitalization rates. On April 26, Governor Cuomo announced that spectator
capacity at large-scale outdoor event venues, including professional and
collegiate sports and live performing arts and entertainment, will increase
from 20 to 33 percent beginning May 19. This increase will coincide with
the previously announced increase in large-scale indoor event venue
capacity. Social distancing, masks, health screenings and all other State
health and safety protocols remain in effect.
The Governor also
announced that capacities would be increased throughout several industries
that have proven to safely reopen in accordance with the State's COVID-19
health and safety guidelines, starting May 15:
- Gyms and fitness centers outside of New York
City will increase from 33% to 50% capacity.
- Casinos and gaming facilities will increase
from 25% to 50% capacity.
- Offices will increase from 50% to 75%
capacity.
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