Governor Cuomo Releases Phase 3 Restaurant Guidelines  

After months with no indoor dining service, some restaurants across the state are finally able to reopen and welcome guests inside. Some regions are set to hit Phase 3 this Friday, and with that, restaurants will be able to begin indoor operations. The Governor has released new regulations that outline the safety measures that will need to be put in place to protect restaurant staff and customers.  The full guidelines can be read here  - and all restaurants must read and affirm these guidelines before reopening. Restaurants must also create a Safety Plan, you can download a Safety Plan Template here .   

Some highlights of the guidance include: 
 
  • Restaurants must ensure that indoor capacity is limited to no more than 50% of the maximum occupancy for an area as set by the certificate of occupancy, exclusive of employees. 
  • Restaurants must ensure that indoor and outdoor tables with seating for customers are separated by a minimum of six feet in all directions. 
  • All individuals sitting at a table must be with the same party, with a maximum of 10 people per table. 
  • Restaurants should ensure that a distance of at least six feet is always maintained among workers, unless the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g. cooking, cleaning, clearing tables, maintenance). 
  • Regardless of physical distance, all employees must always wear an acceptable face covering.   
  • Patrons must also wear face coverings at all times, except while seated. 
  • Further clarity that outdoor dining includes spaces that have a fixed roof if they have two sides of open-air flow. 
  • Restaurants must post signs throughout the site, consistent with DOH COVID-19 signage.
 
To help restaurants prepare for Phase 3, NYSRA will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, June 10,   at 9:30 a.m.: Phase 3 Indoor Dining Guidelines: What Restaurants Need to Know |  Register Here .
 
We want to reiterate that all restaurants must visit this  website  to read and affirm that they understand the new regulations before reopening. If you have any questions please reach out to  [email protected]  or directly to our Government Affairs Director, Kevin Dugan, at [email protected]  and we will get back to you as soon as we can.