NYC Indoor Dining To Expand To 75% Capacity On May 7: Cuomo

NEW YORK, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that New York City indoor dining will expand to 75 percent capacity beginning in a week, on May 7. This expansion will bring the city's indoor dining rules in line with the rest of the state.

The governor also announced that hair salons, barbershops, and other personal care services in NYC will expand to 75 percent indoor capacity beginning on May 7.

Additionally, New York City gyms and fitness centers can expand to 50 percent indoor capacity beginning on May 15.

"After a long and incredibly difficult fight, New York State is winning the war against COVID-19, and that means it's time to loosen some restrictions put in place to protect the public health and help our local businesses," Governor Cuomo said. "There's no doubt that restaurants have been among the pandemic's hardest-hit businesses, and New York City's thriving restaurant industry has found it challenging to keep staff and maintain profits.

State public health guidance for social distancing and masks must still be followed within New York City's restaurants, gyms, fitness centers, hair salons, and barbershops.

Cuomo's long list of announcements on Friday also included a rescinding of the Executive order establishing the micro-cluster zone strategy "in light of New York State's progress against the COVID-19 pandemic."