Indoor dining in NYC to shut down again Monday amid COVID resurgence
Indoor dining will be banned in New York City again starting next week, Gov. Cuomo announced Friday, as hospitals across the five boroughs remained overburdened by a troubling new surge in coronavirus infections.
As of Monday, restaurants in the Big Apple will only be allowed to offer outdoor dining and takeout, Cuomo said in a virtual briefing from Albany.
In the rest of the state, indoor dining will be allowed to continue for now, Cuomo said, though serving capacity will be reduced from 50% to 25%.
“The density and the crowding — that is a big problem,” Cuomo said of why the indoor dining ban will only be re-implemented in the city.
The governor said he realizes the indoor dining ban could have a harsh economic impact. “I understand we’re wiping out businesses,” he said.
As a result, he said he’ll extend the commercial eviction moratorium that was set to expire Jan. 1.