As New York enters Phase 3 of reopening on Monday, indoor dining will be pushed back amid a national COVID-19 resurgence, reports Patch.
Indoor dining's long-awaited return was planned as part of New York City's entry into Phase Three of reopening, but Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo warned indoor dining could lead to a sharp increase in COVID cases.
In states such as Florida, Texas and Michigan, COVID-19 outbreaks were undoubtedly tied to their rush to open restaurants and bars, they pointed out.
"We've got to honor those facts and not forge ahead on indoor dining," de Blasio said.
The city will continue to double down on outdoor dining for an indefinite amount of time. About 6,600 restaurants have applied to run outdoor dining spaces, and the city will continue to help others expand.
But for now, although New York City's coronavirus numbers continue to drop, the surge in the rest of the country makes it prudent to hold back on indoor dining, de Blasio said.
