Bars and restaurants across the Empire State will be able to stay open until 11 p.m., beginning Sunday, as COVID-19 case counts and hospitalization levels continue to decline from the holiday season spike — a slight extension of the current 10 p.m. cutoff.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Friday as his besieged administration faced a revolt from Democratic state lawmakers — and demands for an independent investigation from Republicans — after The Post revealed how his top advisor, Melissa DeRosa, admitted state officials stonewalled the public over data that showed coronavirus deaths linked to nursing homes were undercounted.
“The infection rate and hospitalizations have continued to significantly decline,” said Cuomo in a statement released by his office that also referenced his recent decisions to allow indoor arenas and indoor dining service to restart with limited capacity.
“Accordingly, we have adjusted with arena and catering hall openings with rigorous testing and limited capacity indoor dining openings in New York City,” Cuomo added. “We will also move the restaurant and bar closing hour from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. statewide on Sunday.”
Big Apple eateries were allowed to start serving patrons indoors again at 25 percent capacity Friday, while arenas — like Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden — will be allowed to open later this month at 10 percent capacity.
