New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that indoor dining may not be included in phase 3 of reopening the Big Apple after California, Texas and Florida saw massive spikes in coronavirus cases that stemmed from people gathering inside restaurants and bars.
During a press conference, de Blasio said that a ‘number of cities and states have unfortunately been moving in the wrong direction’, a reference to multiple southern states that have experienced an uptick in cases over the last week.
The number of US infections have increased to nearly 40,000 for the fourth day in a row, bringing the total number of cases to more than 2.5 million.
De Blasio then went on to address the city’s plan for reopening during phase 3.
‘We all love indoor dining, but we also see problems related with indoor dining,’ he said before pointing to a recent incident in East Lansing, Michigan, where 85 patrons tested positive for the coronavirus. The cluster of infections was linked back to them dining at a single restaurant.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) announced Monday that indoor dining may not be included in phase 3 of reopening the Big Apple after California, Texas and Florida saw massive spikes in coronavirus cases that stemmed from people gathering inside restaurants and bars
De Blasio noted that clusters of cases in Texas and Florida, which are both seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases, have also been traced back to people dining inside restaurants and bars.
‘California had made great progress; they’re now unfortunately slipping back and they are changing the rules regarding bars and restaurants,’ de Blasio said.
‘So we’re paying attention to this lesson,’ he said, adding that due to increasing concern, city officials will ‘reexamine the indoor dining rules for Phase 3’.
‘The rest of Phase 3 is moving on pace for Monday, July 6, but the indoor dining element is now in question,’ de Blasio said.
He said city officials will be working with state officials to determine whether they will decide to ‘pause’ indoor dining or ‘modify’ the rules for indoor dining.
The mayor said he hoped to have more information regarding indoor dining policies in the next few days.
‘The rest of Phase 3 is moving on pace for Monday, July 6, but the indoor dining element is now in question,’ de Blasio said. Customers dine outside two restaurants in Manhattan on June 27
De Blasio noted that clusters of cases in Texas and Florida (patrons pictured June 24 in Miami Beach), which are both seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases, have also been traced back to people dining inside restaurants and bars
People (pictured on Sunday) sit at an outdoor bar and eating area as cases continue to rise in several states
‘California had made great progress; they’re now unfortunately slipping back and they are changing the rules regarding bars and restaurants,’ de Blasio said. Patrons are seen dining outside of a restaurant in San Francisco, California, on June 23
De Blasio then addressed outdoor dining and how it is working ‘across the board’.
Governments are stepping up testing and reimposing restrictions as newly confirmed coronavirus infections surge in multiple states.
Beaches are closing and beer is going untapped as Florida, Texas and other states backpedal on their reopenings, ordering mandatory wearing of masks in public and closing down restaurants and bars.
According to a data map compiled by spatial analytics company, Esri, 26 per cent of counties across the US are now battling uncontrollable coronavirus outbreaks
The data map shows that counties in the South and parts of the Southwest are currently experiencing an ‘epidemic trend’, or uncontrollable spread, of COVID-19 cases.
Of the 3,141 counties across the US, 824 are currently experiencing an epidemic outbreak and 1,251 are seeing spreading trends, which is an outbreak that could still be controlled if preventative measures are taken.
Across the country, 885 counties are currently seeing a controlled trend in new coronavirus cases.
The entire state of Arizona is currently seeing epidemic or spreading trends, according to the data map.
According to a data map (pictured) compiled by spatial analytics company, Esri, 26 per cent of counties across the US are now battling uncontrollable coronavirus outbreaks
The US has recorded more than 2.5 million cases and at least 125, 824 deaths
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas and California only have a handful of counties that have controlled the spread.
About half the counties in Texas are currently seeing epidemic and spreading trends in new infections.
Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are currently seeing epidemic trends in recent deaths, according to the data map.
While cases continue to spike, deaths appear to be declining across the country. More than 125,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus.
Health officials have warned that while deaths appear to be declining, it could potentially shoot back up again because fatality rates often lag behind infection rates.
Forecast models are currently predicting at least 150,000 COVID-19 deaths across the country by August if current social distancing measures remain in place.