New York - COVID-19 Covered

New York

Total Cases: 421,336 (August 10)
Tests Administered: 6,509,644 (August 8)
Fatalities: 32,781 (August 10)
Testing:
  • You can find a New York COVID-19 testing location close to you using this website.
  • The state is opening 14 new temporary testing sites at churches within communities particularly impacted by COVID-19. (June 8)
  • The state has partnered with SOMOS for an additional 28 testing sites in predominantly minority neighborhoods. (May 20)
  • The state has partnered with Northwell Health to create 24 temporary testing sites at churches in minority communities. (May 9)
  • Governor Cuomo will sign an executive order to allow pharmacies to offer to test. (April 25)

ECONOMIC RESPONSE

Essential Service Designations:

  • Essential service industries in New York include pharmacies, media, banks and related financial institutions, shipping industry, warehouses, grocery, and food production, and businesses essential to the supply chain. (March 18)
  • For a comprehensive list of essential service designations in New York visit this website.

Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:

  • Governor Cuomo signed legislation forbidding health care employers from penalizing employees who make complaints regarding employer violations. (June 17) 
  • New York released official reopening guidance for businesses based on sector. Details for each sector can be found here.  
  • New York City released official reopening guidance for businesses based on sector. Details for each sector can be found here.  

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

  • Governor Cuomo said there will be “no evictions as long as we are in the middle of the epidemic,” as he signed a 30-day extension of the eviction moratorium amid the coronavirus pandemic. (August 6) 
  • Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than $30 million to enhance COVID-19 contact tracing and flu prevention in advance of the fall flu season. (July 30) 
  • The New York State Department of Health and State Office for the Aging announced a five-point plan to help long term care residents and their families access services through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, which will provide up to $1 million in funding for long term care facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, headphones, or other accessories to help residents stay connected with family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. (July 17) 
  • Governor Cuomo today announced $1.5 million in funding for “Feeding New York State” to support its network of 10 regional food banks, as well as local farms, to help provide milk and produce to food-insecure New Yorkers. (July 17) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the Special Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers will be extended for another 30 days, through August 15, as the state continues to provide supportive services during the COVID-19 public health crisis. (July 15) 
  • Governor Cuomo announces $4.3 million in federal funding to support local COVID-19 planning and response. (July 2) 
  • $65 million in federal funding will go towards the New York Forward Child Care Expansion Incentive program. (June 23)   
  • The state passed legislation suspending the forfeiture of unemployment benefits amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (June 13)
  • The state passed legislation to allow local governments to extend the deadline for filing property tax abatements to July 15. (June 8)
  • Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation that outlaws price gouging of personal protective equipment. (June 6)
  • Governor Cuomo extended the sales tax filing deadline to June 22. (May 21)
  • Governor Cuomo extended the moratorium on housing evictions from the end of June to August 20. (May 7)
  • The state launched the Nourish New York Initiative to buy food and products from Upstate farms and give those goods to food banks across the state. (April 27)
  • The state will provide $25 million for food banks. (April 27)
  • The state will provide childcare scholarships to front-line workers from funding received through the CARES Act. (April 23)
  • The State Department of Financial Services will order health insurers to provide both financial and administrative relief to all state hospitals. (April 22)
  • New York’s Department of Labor launched a new application for residents to apply for traditional Unemployment Insurance or COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. This streamlines the process to allow New Yorkers to fill out a singular form. (April 20)
  • New York City Mayor de Blasio announced that emergency food providers in the city would be receiving $25 million in emergency funding. (April 10)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the state would extend unemployment benefits to 39 weeks and add an additional $600 per week payment for those on unemployment befits. (April 8)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the largest student loan servicers in New York will provide relief for student loan borrowers who are having financial struggles. (April 7)
  • Governor Cuomo said he would direct banks to waive mortgage payments for 90 days for people facing hardship. (March 19)
  • The one week waiting period for unemployment insurance has been lifted for people whose need arises out of quarantine, school closures, or other COVID-19-related school closures. (March 19)

Business Support & Resources:

  • The state is offering loans with a focus on “minority and women-owned businesses & very small businesses” through its New York Forward Loan Fund. (May 22)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that $3 million in grants are accessible to businesses to produce emergency medical supplies and equipment. (May 14)
  • The New York City Council introduced a relief package that will offer protections for tenants, workers, and small businesses. (April 21)

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Reopening:

  • New York City is setting up quarantine checkpoints at “key entry points” along main bridges and tunnels to screen travelers coming from more than 30 states with substantial coronavirus outbreaks. (August 5) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced individuals traveling to New York from Rhode Island will need to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. The District of Columbia and Delaware were removed from the list, bringing the total to 35 states and territories. (August 3) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced 12 New York companies have received support from the State to produce needed supplies to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (July 30) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the US Open Championship will be held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck from September 14 to September 20 without fans. The USGA will put protocols in place to protect players and staff, including rigorous protocols for testing, cleaning, use of face coverings, and social distancing. (July 29) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that DMV licensed driving schools can now conduct distance learning Pre-Licensing Courses. Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, driving schools across the state have been unable to offer the Pre-Licensing Course—also known as the five-hour course—to students. (July 29) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that three additional states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those areas, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days. The newly-added states are Illinois, Kentucky, and Minnesota. (July 28) 
  • Governor Cuomo has added ten additional states to the travel advisory, including Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington. (July 21) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that New York City is entering Phase 4 of reopening without any additional indoor activity, such as malls and cultural institutions, starting July 20. Every region of New York State will now be in Phase 4 of reopening. (July 17) 
  • Governor Cuomo today announced that four additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states to quarantine for 14 days. The newly added states are Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin. (July 14) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced travel enforcement operation will commence on July 14 at airports across the state to help ensure travelers are following the state’s quarantine restrictions, and to help contain the rates of COVID-19 transmission in New York State. (July 13) 
  • New York State Department of Health announced the resumption of limited visitation to nursing homes. Visits will be limited to two people per resident, temperature checks, PPE, and social distancing will be required. (July 10) 
  • The Governor announced that beginning on July 10, malls can open in regions that have entered Phase 4 of reopening if they have implemented an enhanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) filtration system and follow proper ventilation protocols. (July 8) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced New York will decide on fall school reopening during the first week of August. (July 8) 
  • The Governor announced that New York State will provide 1,000 masks and 1,000 two-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer for the Fire Island COVID Destroyers – a partnership that includes GMHC and Fire Island community leaders – to distribute on Fire Island. (July 8) 
  • Governor Cuomo Announced that Long Island has been cleared by global public health experts to enter phase 4 of reopening beginning July 8. (July 7) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that individuals traveling to New York from Delaware, Kansas and Oklahoma will now be required to quarantine for 14 days. (July 7) 
  • The Governor announced that casinos and movie theaters will remain closed as the state government continues for best practices to emerge. (July 6) 
  • The Governor announced that New York State will make industry recommendations on the use of air filtration technology to potentially eliminate the spread of COVID-19 through air conditioning systems. (July 6) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that New York City entered Phase 3 of reopening, without indoor dining and subject to state guidance. (July 6) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that state park swimming pools will open on July 4th weekend. (July 2) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the reopening of New York City indoor dining, originally part of the city’s expected entry into Phase 3 on July 6, will be postponed as states across the country that previously reopened indoor dining are experiencing upticks in COVID-19 cases. (July 1) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that The Capital region of NY state has been cleared it to enter Phase 4 of reopening starting July 1. (June 30) 
  • Governor Cuomo, along with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, have updated their travel advisory that all individuals traveling from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, will be required to quarantine for 14 days. (June 30) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that malls will be required to install high efficiency particle air filters prior to opening. The filters have been shown to be effective in reducing the presence of coronavirus in the air. (June 29) 
  • Broadway has announced that it will remain closed through 2020. (June 29) 
  • The New York City Marathon has been cancelled. (June 24) 
  • Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, and Southern Tier are slated to Enter Phase IV of reopening on Friday, June 26. Phase 4 guidance will allow social gatherings of 50 people and indoor religious gatherings at 33% capacity. (June 24) 
  • Governor Cuomo, along with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, instituted a travel advisory that all individuals traveling from states with a positive test rate of higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over seven days, will be required to quarantine for a 14 days. The three states will continually update and publish which states the advisory applies to. (June 24) 
  • The Mid-Hudson Region entered Phase Three of reopening June 23, with Long Island following on June 24. (June 24) 
  • New York City entered Phase Two of reopening on June 22. (June 21) 
  • Governor Cuomo said he is considering ordering a quarantine on travelers arriving in New York from states such as Florida that have had an increase in coronavirus cases. (June 18) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that he would issue an executive order expanding state enforcement during the phased reopening. Violating businesses could immediately lose their liquor license and be given a shutdown order. (June 18)  
  • Hospitals and group homes are now permitted to have visitors at their own discretion; however the visitors must follow state guidelines. (June 16) 
  • The Capital Region has been cleared to enter Phase Three of reopening on June 17, joining Western New York, Central, New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North County, and Southern Tier. (June 16) 
  • Governor Cuomo expanded gathering sizes for areas that are in Phase Three to 25 people. (June 15) 
  • Governor Cuomo signed an executive order extending the declaration of disaster emergency in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties. (June 15) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that localities can open public pools and playgrounds at their discretion beginning June 11. (June 11) 
  • New York City has met the criteria to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care, joining more than 50 other regions. (June 8) 
  • Under Phase Two, places of worship will be allowed to reopen with 25 percent occupancy. (June 6) 
  • Mayor de Blasio announced a seven-point plan of recommendations to the MTA to help New York City as it transitions into Phase One, including limiting capacity on buses or trains, increase frequency of service, and monitoring of platform crowding among others. (June 2) 
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order permitting “low-risk, outdoor recreational activities” and business offering those activities to reopen in areas that have entered phase one of reopening. (June 2) 
  • Dentists across the state are permitted to reopen June 1. (May 31) 
  • Governor Cuomo will sign an executive order May 28 permitting businesses to deny entry to anyone not wearing a mask or face covering. (May 28) 
  • Veterinarian Practices were permitted to open statewide beginning on May 26. (May 24) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that New York professional sports teams could begin training camps following heath protocols. (May 24) 
  • Campground and RV Parks were permitted to open statewide on May 25. (May 24) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that horse racing tracks throughout the state will be allowed to open without fans beginning June 1. (May 16) 
  • The state has created a website providing businesses guidance for Phase 1 of reopening. (May 14)  
  • Low-risk businesses and recreational activities including landscaping, gardening, tennis and drive-in movie theaters reopened on May 15. (May 11) 
  • Upon reopening, businesses will be required to implement new safety precautions including adjusting workplace hours, enacting social distancing protocols, restricting non-essential travel, and establishing a “continuous health screening process for individuals to enter the workplace,” among others. (May 4) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced the creation of the state’s board for reopening the state, New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board. (April 28) 
  • Governor Cuomo and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut announced that marinas, boatyards, and marine manufacturers will be allowed to open for personal use given that social distancing is implemented. (April 18) 

SCHOOL PLANNING

K-12:

  • Governor Cuomo announced that New York schools can reopen in the coming weeks if the rate of new COVID-19 cases remains as it has been over the last several weeks. (July 31) 
  • Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the approval of 148 Smart Schools Investment Plans aimed at improving school security and reimagining teaching and learning for the 21st century. The approved plans, totaling $94 million, are part of the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act — a sweeping education technology initiative first proposed by the Governor and overwhelmingly approved by voters. (July 30) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that schools can reopen if they are located in a region that is in Phase 4 of reopening, and if its daily infection rate remains below 5 percent or lower using a 14-day average since unPAUSE was lifted. Schools will close if the regional infection rate rises above 9 percent, using a 7-day average, after August 1. New York State will make the formula determination during the week of August 1 to August 7. (July 14) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that outdoor, socially distanced graduations of no more than 150 people will be permitted June 26. (June 7) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that summer day camps are permitted to reopen June 29. (June 2) 
  • Governor Cuomo announced that summer school would be held remotely. (May 21) 

State Higher Education:

  • A list of New York universities and colleges planning to reopen in the fall can be found here. 
  • The State will be providing guidance to institutions of higher education to permit some in-person instruction and on-campus housing for the fall semester. Institutions must provide a plan to meet the guidance and file these with the State. (June 18) 

Giving Opportunities

April 20, 2020

Requesting gloves, masks, and gowns. The state is willing to provide funding to any company to obtain the proper equipment and personnel.

Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at COVID-19@marathonstrategies.com