ALBANY – New York will ban events of 500 people or more and impose restrictions on restaurants, bars and other venues as part of its effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

The ban on large gatherings will take effect at 5 p.m. Friday and remain indefinitely. It took effect sooner for Broadway theaters, which went dark a day sooner.

Bars, restaurants and other venues with a listed occupancy of less than 500 will have their capacity temporarily slashed by 50%, Cuomo said.

In addition, New York will impose sweeping restrictions on nursing homes across the state, prohibiting anyone but medical staff to enter in hopes of preventing infection of the elderly, who are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus disease's effects. Facilities will be able to make some exceptions.

Cuomo acknowledged the actions were "dramatic," but said they were necessary to cut down density in hopes of containing the spread.

His announcement came the same day New York's number of confirmed cases jumped to 328 statewide, an increase of 112 from Wednesday. Of the total, 148 are in Westchester County, home to one of the country's most significant clusters in the city of New Rochelle.

“Science dictates these decisions,” Cuomo said. “This is about science. This is about data. And let the science and let the data make the decisions.”

Exceptions for schools, mass transit

The ban on large gatherings does not apply to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit.

It's also not meant to apply to office buildings, grocery stores and other buildings where people don't congregate in close quarters in a single space.

“What we’re talking about is congregate spaces where you’re packing a lot of people in," said Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo's top aide.

Businesses who ignore the capacity restrictions could face fines or closure, DeRosa said.

When it comes to nursing homes, staff members will be required to wear masks and will be monitored daily for any symptoms of illness.

Cuomo said facilities can make exceptions for those looking to visit a family member who is particularly ill or facing death, though they will be required to wear protective gear.

Several times, Cuomo pointed to the state of Washington as a worst-case scenario.

There, a coronavirus outbreak ripped through a Seattle-area nursing home, leading to a statewide death total of 29 as of Thursday afternoon.

So far, New York has not had any confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, even as the number of cases has steadily risen.

Cuomo said the limitations on events and nursing homes will remain in effect indefinitely.

The state will revisit them daily, but he said they remain likely to remain as the state's number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to increase.

"I can't tell you anything more than the numbers tell me," Cuomo said. "I see those numbers going up on the number of cases, on the number of hospitalizations, I see those going up and I adjust on the numbers."

Economic impact expected for restaurants, venues

The restrictions are sure to have a significant economic impact on performance venues, arenas and the restaurant industry, which will be forced to cancel events or limit capacity for the immediate future.

The NYS Restaurant Association, which represents restaurant owners across the state, wrote a letter to Cuomo on Thursday, noting that restaurants — particularly those in hard-hit areas like New Rochelle — have taken a major hit already.

The association asked the state to take steps to help the restaurant industry by implementing a temporary cap on delivery fees charged by delivery apps, extending the terms of payment to alcohol distributor and granting a 90-day extension on paying sales tax.

In a statement, Melissa Fleischut, the Restaurant Association's president and CEO, said Cuomo's capacity cap will "dramatically impact all restaurants across the state."

"Restaurants in Westchester and New York City have already reached a tipping point and are barely keeping their doors open," she said. "The dramatic decline in business will only get worse, and there is a growing fear among owners about how they will survive this crisis without meaningful assistance."

The Broadway League, the trade group representing Broadway theater owners and producers, said the New York theaters hope to reopen for performances the week of April 13.

"Our top priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatergoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals,” said Charlotte St. Martin, the trade group's president.

When asked whether he thinks Broadway will reopen April 13, Cuomo said: "We'll see."

Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association, said he's advising tavern owners to follow the recommendations of health professionals.

"Our approach to all matters like this, but most especially this matter, has been to follow the advice of the health authorities," he said. "If the health authorities think that density restrictions are in order, then that's what we need to do."

Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, who represents Manhattan's Theater District, called the decision part of "an unprecedented crisis," saying the industry supports tens of thousands of workers and small businesses.

“As we follow the much-needed guidelines set out by Governor Cuomo this afternoon, we now have to do everything possible to keep Broadway alive after this epidemic and support the local businesses that are the lifeblood of our city,” he said in a statement.

More:New Rochelle epicenter of Westchester coronavirus

More:Coronavirus: Isolation of the elderly protects health, but increases loneliness

More:Q&A: What you need to know about SUNY, CUNY ending in-person classes

Jon Campbell is a New York state government reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at JCAMPBELL1@Gannett.com or on Twitter at @JonCampbellGAN.

Support local journalism

We cover the stories from the New York State Capitol and across New York that matter most to you and your family. Please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription to the New York publication nearest you. Check out the latest offer.