New York State to Lift Night Curfews for Food and Beverages Services Coming Month End

May, 2021 - By WMR

The restrictions on restaurants, catering companies to be lifted by May 31 as more people get vaccinated and daily cases go down.

Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced that the night curfew on food and beverage service facilities would be lifted for outside dining on May 17 and indoor dining on May 31. Also, midnight curfew for catered events would be lifted on May 31, although earlier May 17, for catered events, vaccination or negative covid-19 report for every attendee is a must. The governor along with announcing end of night curfew said that NYC patrons will be permitted sitting at bars from May 3.

“We know the Covid positivity rate is a function of our behavior, and over the last year New Yorkers have remained disciplined and continued with the practices we know work to stop the spread of the virus,” Cuomo stated.

Lifting the restrictions on restaurants, catering companies, and bars would allow the businesses to recover from the losses faced due to the pandemic as the society returns to this new normal world of post pandemic.

Capacity limits have been increased for other industries as well. Previously operational gyms at capacity of 33% will be now allowed up to half its capacity. Gaming facilities and casinos operating at 25% will increase to 50%, and offices would be allowed to extend to three fourth capacity which had previously 50% allowance, outside of NYC

The state legislature too is working to scale down some of the governor's executive orders related to Covid-19. The Assembly and State Senate, on Wednesday will vote and decide whether the mandate that the food sales are needed with any sale of alcoholic beverage should be ended, further reducing restrictions for bars and restaurants as a greater population is getting vaccinated and the daily number of cases trend down in the whole state.