ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) (UPDATED) - Restaurants in some COVID-19 hot spots in New York can once again offer limited indoor dining, the governor's office said Thursday.
Those restaurants can allow up to four people per table to dine indoors, Cuomo’s office announced Thursday.
The decision comes a day after some Erie County restaurants won a preliminary injunction for themselves against the state’s enforcement of the indoor dining ban.
Cuomo’s counsel Kumiki Gibson said his office is reviewing the decision and disagrees with it. It’s the latest lawsuit that has questioned Cuomo’s micro-cluster approach that he launched in October, when cases began surging statewide.
Gibson released the following statement Thursday:
"A court decision yesterday temporarily granted a select few restaurants located within an Orange Zone in Erie County the ability to resume indoor dining under the rules governing Yellow Zones. We are reviewing the decision. While that process is ongoing, to ensure uniformity and fairness, all restaurants operating in Orange Zones can now operate under rules governing Yellow Zones.
"We disagree with the court's decision and its impact on public health as Federal CDC data clearly demonstrates indoor dining increases COVID-19 spread. From the start of this pandemic, the State has acted based on facts and the advice of public health experts, and we will continue that approach."
Cuomo’s approach has often led to disagreements between state and local officials, whose data can often differ, and confusion for residents.
The parties will have to go back to court to determine if the injunction will become permanent.