Syracuse, N.Y. - Starting today, some restaurants in New York State can once again offer outdoor dining to customers.
The only restaurants that qualify are those in a region that has reached Phase Two of the state's four-step reopening process. The Central New York area officially achieved that benchmark last week.
Restaurants will have to follow several safety protocols including keeping tables six feet apart, staff must wear masks and customers also have to wear masks until they're seated.
The New York State Restaurant Association says the industry has lost billions of dollars due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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