New York City restaurants may be able to offer outdoor dining as soon as June 22, mayor says

• New York City could enter the second phase of its re-opening plan on June 22, but it's possible things are delayed, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.
• On Monday, the city officially began to reopen after nearly 80 days of coronavirus lockdown.
• The hallmark of Phase 2 is outdoor dining at restaurants under guidelines released earlier in June.

The second phase of New York City's reopening plan might commence as soon as June 22, but things could get pushed back, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.

Construction, manufacturing, and some retail workers were allowed to return on Monday, June 8, as part of Phase 1, but it's outdoor dining at restaurants that's behind much of the eagerness to advance into Phase 2. New York State has clear metrics for new coronavirus cases, hospital beds, and testing that dictate when certain businesses in municipalities can reopen, and the five boroughs have made solid progress in fighting the virus, according to the mayor.

"We are not like the other regions of the state," de Blasio said in regards to the June 22 date, warning it could be July before the city is ready for Phase 2. "We owe those restaurants guidance very quickly this week, next week."

In addition to more restaurant service, more retail stores will be allowed to offer in-person shopping during Phase 2, according to the state's guidelines. Malls, movie theaters, event spaces, and gyms will remain closed.

Outdoor dining is relatively low-risk, as long as diners are seated at least 6 feet away from each other, because of the increased air flow, Susan Hassig, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, previously told Business Insider.

Earlier in June, the city released specific guidelines for restaurants to use sidewalk space in front of their buildings, as well as 45 miles of open streets that can also be used for service.

"New York's restaurants are part of what make us the greatest city in the world. They've taken a hit in our fight against COVID-19 – and there's no recovery without them," de Blasio said at the time.