Governor Cuomo Shuts Down Indoor Dining In NYC As COVID-19 Cases Spike

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that indoor dining will shut down once again in New York City, starting on Monday due to a surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

During a virtual press briefing, Cuomo explained that the city’s COVID-19 related hospitalization rates have dramatically spiked over the last two weeks, which forces indoor dining to end.

According to the NY Post, indoor dining in NYC has only been operating at 25 percent since it was allowed to reopen on Sept. 30.

Critics argue that Cuomo’s approach is off base after he said indoor dining accounts for 1.43% of recent spread in New York City, while also claiming that 74% of the recent spike in infections results from indoor gatherings in private homes.

Many restaurant owners have expressed dismay as another forced shutdown severely threatens their ability to survive the winter.