Curfew For NY Bars, Restaurants Extended To 11 PM

LONG ISLAND, NY — A statewide curfew for bars and restaurants will be extended from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. beginning Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday.

Cuomo said the decision was made based on the continued decline in coronavirus hospitalizations and the infection rate statewide.

"Our decisions are based on science and data and we adjust as the virus adjusts," Cuomo said.

Cuomo recently announced New York City restaurants can reopen for indoor dining at 25 percent capacity beginning Friday.

Cuomo said arenas can soon open to 10 percent capacity with testing protocols and wedding receptions can kick off again March 15, with no more than 150 people in attendance and testing protocols in place.

"We will continue to follow the science and react accordingly," Cuomo said. "If we keep the infections down and vaccinations up, we will continue to stay ahead in the footrace against this invisible enemy."

On Friday, New York's coronavirus positivity rate was 3.54 percent.

Earlier this month, the 10 p.m curfew was lifted for 91 restaurants that filed a lawsuit against the state, according to a report in RochesterFirst.com.

Before the Super Bowl, some lawmakers called on Cuomo to lift the curfew before the big game, but he declined, citing concerns about people drinking without masks.