On Wednesday, June 3, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in phase two of reopening.
“We are continuously evaluating activities that can be safely reopened, and today we are adding outdoor seating at restaurants to phase two,” Governor Cuomo relayed.
The Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York have already entered phase two and restaurants in those regions may reopen for outdoor dining starting Thursday, June 4.
Long Island, which entered phase one on Wednesday, May 27, is on track to enter phase two of reopening next week.
Restaurants that do offer outdoor dining must space tables six feet apart, all staff must don face coverings, as must patrons when not seated.
“COVID-19 is still a real threat and we’re still battling it. I know it’s not on the front pages today, but it is still in people and in society,” Governor Cuomo stated. “But thanks to the people of New York and the nurses, doctors and essential workers, today we have the lowest number of hospitalizations ever and we have the lowest death toll ever. We are continuously evaluating activities that can be safely reopened, and today we are adding outdoor seating at restaurants to phase two.”
There are 374,085 confirmed cases in New York State, 40,062 of which have been in Suffolk County.