A survey released by the New York State Restaurant Association this week found restaurants in the state alone lost $1.9 billion in sales and 250,000 jobs lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Restaurants were ordered to close earlier this month in the state in order to halt the spread of the virus; Gov. Andrew Cuomo subsequently ordered people with non-essential jobs to stay home through at least April 15. 

The pandemic has resulted in a virtual shutdown of the economy nationally and in New York, a state with the highest number of confirmed coronavirus patients and deaths in the country. 

But the restaurant and service industry remains one of the hardest hit. Restaurants reported a 58 percent decline in sales, while 78 percent of operators have laid off workers and 52 percent more expect more cuts in the next 30 days.

“While our industry nationwide is deeply impacted, New York State restaurants are among the hardest hit Now that New York has become the global epicenter of the pandemic, we fear the devastating and lasting impact on our restaurants, especially in New York City, the culinary capital of the world," said Melissa Fleischut, the president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association. "Many restaurants have already closed and will never reopen, and restaurant employees are out of work, trying to figure out what’s next. We’ll continue to seek immediate assistance for the industry and find ways to ensure long-term viability.” 

New York delayed the penalty for sales tax payments and Cuomo has approved a moratorium on evictions. 

Restaurants can offer take-out and curbside pickup, along with acoholic drinks.