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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that five state regions would be moving to phase three of reopening tomorrow.
He warned that the “rules are clear” and businesses must abide by the guidelines, including indoor capacity limits.
Noting a rise in cases in some US states, Cuomo warned that even though New York's numbers "are good," precautions must continue.
"We need caution, we have to beware," Cuomo said. "The numbers are good, everything we've done has been exactly right up until now, but that's up until now. And you can make a mistake today that wipes out everything we’ve done, so we have to stay smart. This covid has not gone away."
The regions entering phase three include: Finger Lakes, North Country, Central New York, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier.
Industries that are allowed to reopen in this phase under restrictions include:
- Restaurants and food services (indoor and outdoor seating)
- Personal care services (nail salons and massage businesses)
Restaurants must limit indoor capacity to no more than 50% of maximum occupancy, exclusive of employees. All indoor and outdoor tables with seating for customers must be separated by a minimum of six feet in all directions, the guidance says.
“Please follow the guidelines and do what is permissible to do. People are very wary right now of businesses that are violating the rules,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo warned that businesses could lose their liquor license or right to operate if guidelines were not followed.
“Short-term gain isn’t worth long-term pain,” he added.