COVID In NYC: In Response To New Restrictions, Staten Island Restaurant Declares Itself An 'Autonomous Zone'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — As local COVID-19 cases continue to spike, parts of Staten Island are now in an orange zone.

That means as more restrictions took effect Wednesday, there was more angst for many business owners and residents, CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that his “winter plan” not only identifies zones of the worst-impacted areas, but also boosts hospital resources for them.

“We do more tests than any state in the nation, so we just have more data to make decisions on. Everybody has an opinion on COVID. We have facts,” Cuomo said.

The micro-cluster strategy appears to be unpopular across parts of Staten Island, where some businesses have reluctantly complied, including nail salons and fitness centers, while a few others have pushed back.

“We don’t want to go through another shutdown. Everybody is just trying to get back on the road, man,” resident Xavier Rodriguez said.

MORE: COVID In New York: Staten Island Reopens Coronavirus Field Hospital Not Used Since Peak Of Pandemic

Grant City restaurant Mac’s Public House is covered with signs and markings declaring it an “autonomous zone,” promising to defy the new order.

The sign on the door reads, “We refuse to abide by any rules and regulations put forth by the Mayor of NYC and Governor of NY State.”

Mimi Kim, the owner of Coco Nails, locked up her New Dorp Lane business. There will be no holiday manicures there.

“It’s horrible, horrible, horrible. I need to open as soon as possible,” Kim said.

Neighbors had a lot to say about the frustrations felt by the fed-up... (Read more)

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