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In N.Y.C., Dining Remains Outdoors Only for Now - The New York Times

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It’s Thursday. We’re off tomorrow for Independence Day, but we’ll be back on Monday.

Weather: Mostly sunny with a high around 90, turning partly cloudy tonight.

Alternate-side parking: Suspended Friday and Saturday for the Fourth of July holiday but read about the new amended regulations here.

Credit...Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

While New York City residents can expect to once again enjoy manicures and tattoos beginning Monday, they won’t be able to dine inside a restaurant just yet.

Dine-in services were initially meant to resume next week as part of Phase 3 of the state reopening. That all changed on Wednesday when Mayor Bill de Blasio halted the plan for an indefinite period, in response to reports of recent increases in coronavirus infections in other states. The mayor’s action came just days after Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey made a similar decision to halt indoor dining, which had been scheduled to start in the state on Thursday.

Indoor dining, with limited capacity, is already allowed elsewhere in New York State.

But Mr. de Blasio expressed reservations. “Indoors is the problem more and more,” he said at a news briefing. “The news we have gotten from around the country gets worse and worse.”

[Read more: N.Y. Officials Halt Indoor Dining, Alarmed by Virus Rise in Other States.]

The news came as no surprise. Earlier this week, both the mayor and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo expressed reservations over the city’s resuming dine-in services.

They said New York City, once the nation’s coronavirus epicenter, warrants extra safety precautions. As of now, the mayor is working with the state to figure out how best to determine when to allow indoor dining at restaurants.

The city will be eligible to enter Phase 4, the final phase of the reopening plan, on July 20, if virus numbers do not rise significantly. Seven upstate regions have already reached Phase 4, during which film production, higher education institutions, botanical gardens, and low-risk art and entertainment activities, such as museums, can reopen. Professional sports events without in-person fans will also be allowed. Movie theaters, shopping malls and fitness centers will remain closed.

Less than a week ago, Mr. de Blasio said he was optimistic about dine-in services. But the mayor began having second thoughts after seeing mounting evidence about the risks indoor spaces pose, especially poorly ventilated, cramped or even air-conditioned ones.

Instead, Mr. de Blasio said, “It is time to double down on outdoor dining.” He noted that more than 6,600 restaurants had plans to offer outdoor seating this summer, but some restaurant industry leaders were still concerned about how the restriction would affect business.

Pete Wells, the restaurant critic for The Times, said some restaurant owners had already made plans for hiring people and purchasing inventory in anticipation of Phase 3. “Restaurateurs have learned to live with uncertainty about what the virus will do,” he said. “But it’s harder for them to cope with uncertainty about what the government will do.”

“Of course, in the long run, they’re better off than if they’d actually reopened and then had to shut down again two or three weeks from now,” he said. “But it’s still tough for them. They’re making so little now that every lost dollar is magnified.”

While food lovers might not be able to dine indoors at restaurants, more outdoor activities are resuming. Starting Wednesday, beachgoers will be allowed to swim at city beaches.

Coronavirus cases have soared recently in Arizona, Florida and Texas, and some of the cases were linked to bars and restaurants. A few states — such as California — have had to overturn decisions to reopen bars and restaurants.

Mr. Cuomo is worried about a similar story playing out in New York and has taken steps to control out-of-state visitors from bringing the virus to the city. To curtail the risk, Mr. Cuomo announced that visitors from eight states would have to quarantine once arriving in New York.

[Read more: What Are the Phases of New York’s Reopening Plan?]

3-Story Building in Brooklyn That Housed Gym Suddenly Collapses

Why Surviving the Virus Might Come Down to Which Hospital Admits You

Thousands Join N.Y.C. Bike Protests: ‘It’s Like Riding in the Cavalry’

New York City Cuts Arts Spending by 11 Percent to Close Budget Gap

Want more news? Check out our full coverage.

The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.

Five Bronx tenants describe what it’s like to organize a rent strike in the midst of a pandemic. [Curbed NY]

A Brooklyn rowhouse that once housed slavery abolitionists could become a landmark. [amNY]

Though this isn’t the grand opening that new restaurants imagined, here’s a list of spots across the city that have recently open their doors for the first time. [Eater NY]

Melissa Clark writes:

We were determined to find a way to entertain safely — and in person.

Although most experts agree that the chances of catching the coronavirus from touching objects is low, studies have shown that, under ideal conditions, the virus can live on a surface for up to 72 hours. Quarantining the items for three days and unpacking them with gloved hands would lower the risk to a point acceptable to everyone in attendance.

The Coronavirus Outbreak

  • Frequently Asked Questions and Advice

    Updated June 30, 2020

    • What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

      Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.

    • Is it harder to exercise while wearing a mask?

      A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.

    • I’ve heard about a treatment called dexamethasone. Does it work?

      The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.

    • What is pandemic paid leave?

      The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.

    • Does asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 happen?

      So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.

    • What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface?

      Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.

    • How does blood type influence coronavirus?

      A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.

    • How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.?

      The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.

    • How can I protect myself while flying?

      If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)

    • What should I do if I feel sick?

      If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

The first step was to quarantine the tableware.

I put a set of plates, silverware, glasses and napkins on a separate tray for each group, then wrapped each tray in a bag. I also wrapped up cans of seltzer and individual bags of fancy potato chips.

Just be wary of garnishes and condiments; the fewer, the better. If you can’t imagine grilling without ketchup, mustard or Sriracha, give each group its own bottle or jar, use gloved hands to put small servings in ramekins or ask people to bring their own condiments. This holds true for things like olive oil, salt and pepper, too. At the very least, be sure to have plenty of serving spoons at the ready, one for each group, as well as paper towels and wipes on hand, so everyone can clean as needed.

A few menu items could be made in advance, and, for those items, we again followed the three-day quarantine rule, leaving everything covered in the fridge and pulling out items with gloved hands only just before serving.

And finally, when it came to pouring wine and batched cocktails, we instructed our guests to leave a glass on a table, then take a few steps back while my husband, Daniel, or I refilled it without touching. The planning took a lot more thought than parties before this new normal, and we all needed to stick to a conscious choreography to make sure we kept our distance.

When our friends showed up, it was hard at first to remember every rule, and it felt downright strange not to hug and kiss hello.

But as everyone settled in, six feet apart, wine glasses in hand, we gradually eased out of the awkwardness and remembered what it was like to eat and drink with loved ones on a warm summer night. That feeling, it turns out, hadn’t changed a bit.

It’s Thursday — keep your distance.

Dear Diary:

It was December 2018, and I was walking through Bedford-Stuyvesant after a job interview when my phone rang.

It was a man from the company where I had just interviewed. He asked if could update my résumé. The layout was wrong and some of the text I had included as part of my profile was superfluous, he said.

I didn’t have a computer and hadn’t even found an apartment yet, and he needed a final draft within the hour.

Desperate, I entered the public library on Franklin Avenue near Hancock Street.

The woman at the front desk said that I couldn’t use the computers without a library card and that I couldn’t apply for a card without an address. When I explained the dire nature of my situation, she stood up from her computer.

“Use mine,” she said.

As she and the people who were lined up waiting to check out books were cheering me on and offering to review my work, I edited the document and fired it off.

Nine months later, I was working in my dream job.

— Sam van Roon

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