5 NY Regions To Begin Phase 3 Of Reopening Businesses: Cuomo

NEW YORK, NY — Restaurants will be allowed to reopen for indoor service in five regions this week, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the upstate regions will begin the third phase of reopening Friday.

At his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday, Cuomo said the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, North Country and Central New York will all be allowed to begin phase three of the NY Forward plan this week.

"Please follow the guidelines," Cuomo told businesses. "You can lose your liquor license. You can lose your right to operate. Short-term gain isn't worth long-term pain."

Nail salons and massage therapists are both in phase three.

Moreover, Cuomo said local officials will have the final say over whether to reopen public pools and playgrounds.

His remarks come as the number of deaths, hospitalizations, intubations and intensive care admissions remained down across the state. The number of people who died from the disease ticked down to 36 on Wednesday, including 32 in hospitals and four in nursing homes. Cuomo acknowledged many of the people who are dying had comorbidities, meaning they had multiple chronic diseases or conditions at once.

Daily COVID-19 test results, which Cuomo recommended New Yorkers track over the state's previous metrics, showed New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley remained mostly flat.

New York City

• Wednesday: 1.7 percent
• Tuesday: 1.5 percent
• Monday: 1.8 percent

Long Island

• Wednesday: 0.9 percent
• Tuesday: 0.9 percent
• Monday: 1.1 percent

Hudson Valley

• Wednesday: 0.8 percent
• Tuesday: 1.2 percent
• Monday: 1.2 percent

When asked about when people might be able to visit nursing homes and group homes, the governor said the decision will be left to the state Department of Health.