NYC Indoor Dining Can Expand To 50% Capacity

NEW YORK CITY — Restaurants in New York City got a surprise served up Wednesday — indoor dining can expand to 50 percent capacity.

The new indoor dining rule begins March 19 and covers the city and New Jersey, governors Andrew Cuomo and Phil Murphy said in a joint announcement.

Continued low coronavirus infection rates and expanded vaccinations prompted the dining change, the governors said.

"In partnership with the State of New Jersey, we are expanding our indoor dining openings in New York City to 50 percent," Cuomo said. "We will continue to follow the science and react accordingly. If we keep the infections down and vaccinations up, we will continue to stay ahead in the footrace against this invisible enemy and reach the light at the end of the tunnel together."

Indoor dining in New York City and New Jersey has been tied together because of their proximity. But the current 35 percent capacity limit grated many restaurant owners, particularly since outside the New York City area it stands at 75 percent.

And before Feb. 12, restaurant dining rooms in New York City were completely closed — a restriction that added financial stress on an industry that already struggled in the pandemic.

Andrew Rigie, who leads the New York Hospitality Alliance, said in a statement that the expansion spells from relief from recent gloom and doom facing restaurants.

"While city restaurants may not increase occupancy to 75% like restaurants are safely doing throughout the rest of the state, it is still welcome news to the battered restaurant industry," he said.

Two COVID-19 incubation periods have passed since the indoor dining without any significant rise in infection and hospitalization rates, according to a governor's office statement.