NYC expanding indoor dining capacity to 75% on May 7: Cuomo

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City restaurants will be allowed to increase their indoor dining capacity to 75 percent starting May 7, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

Gyms and fitness centers in the five boroughs will be allowed to expand to 50 percent capacity on May 15, Cuomo said in a press release.

Hair salons, barber shops and other personal care services, meanwhile, will also be allowed to expand their capacity to 75 percent beginning May 7, he said.

"After a long and incredibly difficult fight, New York state is winning the war against COVID-19, and that means it's time to loosen some restrictions put in place to protect the public health and help our local businesses," Cuomo said in a statement. "There's no doubt that restaurants have been among the pandemic's hardest hit businesses, and New York City's thriving restaurant industry has found it challenging to keep staff and maintain profits."

"We're easing restrictions on restaurants, personal care services and gyms to put more money in the pockets of small business owners and working people in New York City, which was hit so hard by the pandemic but, I have no doubt, will come back stronger than ever," he added.