New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during the daily media check at the office of the Governor of the State of New York on June 12, 2020 in New York City.
Jeenah Moon | Getty Images
Restaurants in New York that were left during the summer with terraces and shelters may be forced to close if it gets cold this fall because local officials are struggling to curb state orders to curb the coronavirus, Gov warned of New York, Andrew Cuomo Wednesday.
Unlike other parts of the state, restaurants and bars in the Big Apple are not allowed to redesign indoor dining services. Some have managed to operate with extended terraces which Cuomo has said is safer.
“We have a much, much bigger problem today in New York City than any of the surrounding suburbs with a lack of compliance,” Cuomo told reporters at a conference call when asked why the state indoor dining in other regions allowed and not New York City.
While every region of New York has reopened in the final stages of opening, New York City has been barred from reopening many indoor activities as Covid-19 spreads across the country. Cuomo has recently laid the groundwork for some businesses to return in the coming weeks with limited capacity, including gyms and museums, but has yet to make a decision on restaurants and bars.
The state has crowded many restaurants and bars for violating the governor’s orders to deal with security measures to prevent the spread of the virus. New York has raised liquor licenses by nearly 150 bars for breaking orders, according to a press release on Monday.
Other restaurants have received citations, many in the New York City area, and are subject to fines of up to $ 10,000 per violation.
“I understand the inconvenience that many companies are having to deal with this going on. And I understand that many companies are under economic hardship and they feel that if they cannot return to full operation they will have problems,” Cuomo said. over the phone.
However, he indicated that a decision could come later because the weather is getting cold, adding that “in this environment two weeks is what was a year. Something changes every two weeks.”
The infection rate in New York has remained low for the last 12 consecutive days. The so-called positivity rate, if the percentage of the total tests that are positive, is below 1%, an indication that the virus in the area is under control.
This is an evolving story. Check back later for updates.
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