Regional Guidelines for Re-Opening New York from Governor Cuomo's Office

On May 4, 2020, Governor Cuomo provided a full outline of what regions must achieve to reopen when the current PAUSE order ends on Friday, May 15. In order to re-open, the region must achieve a total of seven metrics relating to its COVID-19 response capabilities:

1. Per CDC Guidelines, the region must have a 14-day decline in hospitalizations or under 15 new daily hospitalizations

2. Per CDC Guidelines, the region must have a 14-day decline in deaths or fewer than 5 deaths per day

3. New hospitalizations must remain under two per one hundred thousand residents (.002%)

4. Share of total hospital beds available must be greater than 30%

5. Share of total ICU beds available must be greater than 30%

6. Monthly averages of regional diagnostic testing must be at least 30 per one thousand residents (3%)

7. There must be at least 30 contact tracers for every one hundred thousand residents (.03%)

Click here to read the plan. 

 

This plan states that each region must also develop a plan and maintain a “regional control room” for assessing COVID-related data to ensure that all of the necessary requirements continue to be met. Mayor Bill de Blasio will coordinate the reopening plan for the City of New York. The Governor also outlined new safety precautions that each business must put in place upon re-opening to help lower the risk of spreading the virus. Read more here. 

 

In addition to clarifying re-opening requirements, the Governor provided information on the phasing process for re-opening. 

 

• Phase I – Construction, manufacturing, wholesale supply chain and select curbside retail
• Phase II – Professional services, finance, insurance, retail, administrative support, real estate, and rental leasing
• Phase III – Restaurants and Food services (dine in) and hotels.
• Phase IV – Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Education

Read more about the requirements and phases here.