New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a new night curfew will be imposed on New York’s restaurants and bars, which have liquor license, due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the state and territory.

According to the governor’s office’s statement yesterday, restaurants and bars that have liquor licenses in the state were ordered to close indoor and outdoor dining at 22:00 every night from tomorrow. Governor Cuomo indicated that diners should have wrapped up their meals by curfew time. While a ban on takeaway and delivery of alcohols is imposed after 22:00, this ban will not apply to food orders.

The move comes in response to rises in COVID-19 cases and ensuing curfews that have been put in place in neighboring states, Cuomo said during a press conference announcing the new regulation. “We don’t want people from surrounding states closing at 10 p.m. coming here,” Cuomo said.

Previously, restaurants in NYC were mandated to close outdoor dining at 11 p.m. and indoor dining at 12 a.m.