NEW YORK (WBEN) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday held firm on the state's 10 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants as the state confirmed 15 additional cases of the UK COVID-19 variant.
During his virtual press conference, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell asked the governor if he would consider extending the 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants to allow patrons to finish watching the football game during Super Bowl Sunday.
The governor said that he understands the concerns of restaurants across the state but, held firm in that all bars and restaurants must close at 10 p.m. on Sunday, regardless of the popular TV event.
"The curfew, like everything else this past year, is complicated. In this state we don't have different licenses for restaurants and bars," Cuomo explained. "If we could separate the two, then you could argue for different times at a restaurant and a bar."
Cuomo says the curfew is to prevent people from lingering in an establishment to socialize and drink.
"You can't drink and wear a mask," Cuomo said, which is crucial to prevent the spread of COVID-19 indoors.
However, shortly after his press conference, a state judge lifted the curfew for 91 establishments in Erie and Monroe counties, according to a Times Herald-Record report.
The counties filed a lawsuit to lift the curfew last week and on Friday, a judge ruled the time constraints were unconstitutional. A temporary restraining order has been issues to lift the curfew while the court case proceeds, but only for the establishments named as plaintiffs in the suit.
New York City bars and restaurants, which are not allowed to reopen until Valentine's Day, are also not permitted to open early for Super Bowl Sunday.
Though, Gov. Cuomo said he could be open to allowing the establishments to open several days before Valentine's Day, noting that he would discuss the idea on Monday.
The decision on restaurants came as the state confirmed an additional 15 new cases of the UK COVID-19 variant, bringing the statewide total to 59 cases.
"The UK strain is reportedly up to 70% more transmittable, that is a frightening thought," Cuomo said.
He notes that the state is seeing a significant decline in the COVID-19 cases as vaccinations are also increasing, but stressed "a variant could change it."
"We're aware of new possible threats in the future," Cuomo said. "If these threats actualize, we will respond accordingly."
