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New York has lifted several restrictions on gatherings in many areas in New York State. Specifically, those areas no longer under so-called yellow zone restriction include portions of central and western New York and the southern border. Yellow zones remain in two areas of the Bronx, one in Queens, one in Manhattan’s Washington Heights and one in Newburgh on the Hudson River, Cuomo said. In those spots, nonresidential gatherings are restricted to 25 people, residential gatherings are limited to 10, houses of worship can operate at 50% capacity and indoor and outdoor dining are restricted.

New York's Department of Health has had the authority to impose specific health restrictions based upon clusters of COVID-19 cases in an area. The Micro-Cluster Strategy identifies clusters and the areas around them and categorizes them into one or more color-coded zones with corresponding levels of restrictions based on severity: Red Zones, Orange Zones, and Yellow Zones. New rules and restrictions directly target areas to help control COVID-19 spread and protect hospital capacity.

Gathering restrictions differ across the state depending on whether the area is classified as being in the red, orange or yellow zone. In red-zone areas, all nonresidential and residential gatherings are prohibited. Within the orange zone, gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. In the yellow zone, nonresidential gatherings can take place with a maximum of 25 people, while residential gatherings are limited to 10 people.