GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES OUTDOOR DINING AT RESTAURANTS WILL BE PERMITTED IN PHASE TWO OF REOPENING

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES OUTDOOR DINING AT RESTAURANTS WILL BE PERMITTED IN PHASE TWO OF REOPENING

Restaurants in the Seven Regions that Have Already Entered Phase Two Can Reopen for Outdoor Dining Beginning Tomorrow, June 4th

Erie County is Now Eligible to Resume Elective Surgeries and Ambulatory Care

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced outdoor dining at restaurants will be permitted in phase two of reopening. Restaurants in the seven regions that have already entered phase two - the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York - can reopen for outdoor dining beginning tomorrow, June 4th. Outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, all staff must wear face coverings and customers must also wear face coverings when not seated.

Governor Cuomo also announced that Erie County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. The Governor previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term, and a total of 52 counties can now resume elective surgeries (4 counties do not have hospitals).

"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 said. "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."