Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted the state’s orange and yellow microzone restrictions on Monroe County on Wednesday, ending the restriction on restaurants offering indoor dining.
The county now returns to the earlier phase 4 COVID-19 limits, with restaurants able to operate at half capacity, and seat up to 10 people per table. They still have to close or go to takeout only after 10:00 p.m.
The change was hailed by Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Duffy, who said it’s still not enough to help businesses crippled by the pandemic to pull out of their dive. He called for a coordinated local, state and federal government aid program for small businesses, giving them up to two years of property and sales tax cuts to help them recover. He said he expects it will take up to three years for that recovery to happen.