Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that the covered dinner will now return to 25 percent capacity on February 12, two days before the February 14 date.
Many in the restaurant industry have asked for an early return to indoor dining, arguing that they would lose business on Valentine’s Day weekend if they could start opening on February 14, which is already one of the busiest days of the year for restaurant industry. The NYC Hospitality Alliance, which represents thousands of restaurants in the city, praised the decision. “This will allow restaurants to generate much-needed revenue from Valentine’s Day weekend deals, much of which they would have missed because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year,” said Andrew Rigie, Alliance executive director, in an announcement.
Cuomo indicated on Friday that he would consider an early return if the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continued to decline in New York. On Monday, the rate of positivity in New York based on an average of seven days was 5.10 percent, according to state data. While the positivity rate continues to decline, New York continues to see thousands of new cases every day, and health experts from across the country, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have raised the alarm about the virus variant. it spreads quickly found for the first time in Britain. The CDC also lists indoor meals as among the most risky activities with regard to the threat of the spread of the virus.
Still, Cuomo said he felt the current data and the downward trend in cases allowed his government to bring back indoor meals, which were banned for the first time in March last year, before being allowed again for a few months. during the fall. He did not rule out further restrictions if cases increase again in New York. During Monday’s press conference, he expressed particular concern about the Bronx, where the seven-day average positive rate is now 7.03%, higher than last week.
The Cuomo government, however, is feeling encouraged by the vaccination push, although distribution problems have remained a problem in the city even last month. On Sunday, the Cuomo government announced that more than 2.1 million doses of the vaccine had been administered – including the first and second doses. Cuomo emphasized on Monday that it is vital that the federal government increase its supply and distribution efforts to allow New York to vaccinate more people.
In New York, some restaurant employees reported last week that they received the first dose of the vaccine or signed up for consultations. More are expected to do so this week, before returning to indoor meals on February 12. Most hospitality workers and New Yorkers have not yet been vaccinated, and it may take several months for a large proportion of the population to be vaccinated.