New York Governor Announces Lift on CCP Virus Curfew for Bars, Restaurants

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday a statewide curfew restricting food and beverage service in the state will end next month for both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
New York Governor Announces Lift on CCP Virus Curfew for Bars, Restaurants
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a visit to a COVID-19 vaccination site at State University of New York in Old Westbury, N.Y., on March 15, 2021. (Mark Lennihan/Pool/Getty Images
Lorenz Duchamps
Updated:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that a statewide curfew restricting food and beverage service in the state will end next month for both indoor and outdoor dining areas.

The 12 a.m. curfew for outdoor dining areas will be lifted on May 17, while the 12 a.m. indoor service curfew will end two weeks later on May 31, according to an April 28 statement from the governor’s office.
The curfew for food and beverage services was recently extended by one hour, from 11 p.m. to midnight.
Cuomo also said the 1 a.m. curfew for catered events where attendees have provided proof of immunization or a recent negative CCP virus test will be lifted starting May 17, with the curfew for all catered events set to be lifted on May 31.

“Catered events can resume at residences beginning May 3 above the State’s residential gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors,” according to the press release.

And starting on May 3, seating at bars will be allowed again in the city, consistent with the food services guidance 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,” 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.”

COVID-19 is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus, which originated in China in late 2019.

The announcement comes as the restaurant industry had lobbied for months for the restrictions against the food and beverage services to be lifted, saying these restrictions are unnecessarily penalizing the industry, which was hit hard by the lockdowns.

An empty table at a closed restaurant in Manhattan on Aug. 31, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
An empty table at a closed restaurant in Manhattan on Aug. 31, 2020. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Finally, several other industries will also have their capacities increased starting on May 15 after proving they can safely reopen in accordance with the state’s CCP virus health and safety guidelines.

Gyms and fitness centers outside New York City will have their capacity increased to 50 percent from 33 percent, casinos will be increased to 50 percent from 25 percent, and offices will have a capacity increase to 75 percent from 50 percent.

Lorenz Duchamps
Lorenz Duchamps
Author
Lorenz Duchamps is a news writer for NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media, focusing primarily on the United States, world, and entertainment news.
Related Topics