By Chris Bragg Times Union – Updated: June 11, 2020 1:36 p.m.

ALBANY — Five regions in New York can begin phase three of reopening on Friday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Thursday.

The five regions are Central New York, the Finger Lakes, North Country, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley. The Capital Region is still only cleared for phase two.

Phase three will allow both outdoor and indoor dining in restaurants, as well as the reopening of personal care services including nail salons and spas.

Even in the third phase, there will still be restrictions including requirements that patrons stay six feet apart, wear masks at restaurants unless seated, and that establishments not exceed 50% capacity.

Cuomo said businesses could face penalties if they break the rules, including losing their license to operate. He argued that states that had not imposed similar restrictions are seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases, with 14 recording their highest figures to date.

“It’s not one state, it is the pattern, my friends,” Cuomo said. “We are the exception and an outrageous exception … because our reopening is different from their reopening.”

Cuomo also said that this summer, decisions on the reopenings of public pools and playgrounds would be at the discretion of local governments. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said Wednesday his county would allow opening public pools if they go through the normal county permitting process.

Cuomo also commented again Thursday on the alleged killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, which has sparked nationwide protests, saying he is not in favor of piecemeal “one-off” bills, including a proposal by state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi to ban police from using tear gas to disburse unruly crowds.

“We have to be smarter about this and more comprehensive,” Cuomo said. “I don’t think this is about any one small reform.”

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