Mayor de Blasio Statement on Return of Indoor Dining

September 9, 2020

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today released the following statement on the return of indoor dining:

“We are continuing New York City’s economic recovery by bringing back indoor dining. Working with the state and public health officials, we’ve achieved a plan that puts health and safety first by including strict capacity limits, a close monitoring of citywide positive testing rates and a coordinated inspection regimen. Science will guide our decision-making as we continue to monitor progress and health care indicators over the next three weeks to ensure a safe reopening. This may not look like the indoor dining that we all know and love, but it is progress for restaurant workers and all New Yorkers.” 

Restaurants will be allowed to reopen on September 30th. They will be subject to rigorous inspection protocols and strict occupancy limits. Some requirements for restaurants include:

• Serve customers at a maximum of 25% capacity
• Conduct temperature checks at every front door
• Collect Test & Trace data from at least one customer at each table
• Close bar tops for seating
• Offer COVID-19 protections like PPE for employees
• Space tables six feet apart

If New York City hits 2% in COVID-19 positivity rates, the City will immediately reassess.

Open Restaurants, New York City’s outdoor dining program, has already given the restaurant industry a lifeline; more than 10,000 restaurants are participating, and the program has saved an estimated 90,000 jobs.