NY will impose new restrictions on bars, restaurants and gyms on Friday
Private gatherings also will be limited to 10 people
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, concerned with the spiking number of Covid-19 cases in the state, announced new restrictions that take effect on Friday at 10 p.m.
The governor said bars and restaurants licensed by the State Liquor Authority must close by 10 p.m. and can reopen at 5 a.m. Restaurants will be limited to curbside, food-only pickup after 10 p.m., beginning Friday. The State Liquor Authority will issue further guidance for licensees as to what sales are continued to be permitted.
Cuomo also said gyms must close at 10 p.m. each night beginning Friday and private gatherings in homes will be limited to no more than 10 people.
The 10-person limit will be implemented due to the recent prevalence of Covid spread resulting from small indoor gatherings including Halloween parties, Cuomo said. These gatherings have become a major cause of cluster activity across the state, he said.
“I need the local governments to enforce this,” Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters today. “We went through this with bars and restaurants once before if you remember. We put rules in place. There was widespread lack of compliance and local governments – some did a good job, some really did not. We then had to put together a state task force to do the enforcement. This is statewide. I don’t have the resources to do it, so I need the local governments to do it.”
The governor said this public health measure brings New York State in line with neighboring states including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The governor said the statistics show Covid is on the rise in the state.
• On Tuesday there were 4,820 new positive cases (2.93 percent positive rate) in the state, 1,628 hospitalizations and 21 Covid deaths.
• On Monday there were 3,925 new positive cases (3.09 percent), 1,548 hospitalizations and 32 Covid deaths.
• On Sunday there were 3,144 new positive cases (2.82 percent positive rate), 1,444 hospitalizations and 26 Covid deaths.
