New York - COVID-19 Covered

New York

Total Cases: 371,711 (June 2)
Tests Administered: 2,113,777 (June 1)
Fatalities: 29,917 (June 2)
Testing:
  • New York City officials urged protesters to get tested for COVID-19. (June 1)
  • New York City Mayor de Blasio reported that the city will offer free COVID-19 testing at the city’s nursing homes and provide staff to replace employees who have tested positive. (May 20)
  • The State has partnered with SOMOS for an additional 28 testing sites in predominantly minority neighborhoods. (May 20)
  • Nursing homes are being connected with labs by the state to increase the number of tests at these facilities. (May 18)
  • New York has expanded its testing capacity to 40,000 tests a day and the state offers over 700 testing locations. The state has also expanded its criteria for testing to include all individuals who will return to their workplaces in Phase 1. (May 17)
  • New York City has expanded eligibility standards for who should get tested to anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and anyone who works at a nursing home or shelter. (May 14)
  • Per the State’s antibody testing survey, 7.5 percent of those tested from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and 3.1 percent of those tested from the NYS Police have COVID-19 antibodies. (May 13)
  • The state has partnered with Northwell Health to create 24 temporary testing sites at churches in minority communities. (May 9)
  • New York City Mayor de Blasio has announced the city will test 140,000 people for coronavirus antibodies by early June. (May 7)
  • The state’s National Guard “has made nearly 300,000 testing kits” with 60,000 of those tests being sent to facilities across the state. (May 4)
  • Governor Cuomo joined the governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts in announcing a multi-state agreement to establish a “regional supply chain for personal protective equipment, other medical equipment, and testing.” (May 3)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that 12.3 percent of the state’s population have COVID-19 antibodies per the state’s antibody testing study. (May 2)
  • The State has partnered with BioReference to provide antibody tests to essential workers. (April 29)
  • New York City Mayor de Blasio announced that city-run health clinics would begin using self-swab tests. (April 27)
  • Governor Cuomo will sign an executive order to allow pharmacies to offer testing. (April 25)
  • The State launched an initiative to expand testing in African-American and Latino communities by using places of worship as potential testing sites. (April 23)
  • New York is partnering with Ready Responders to provide health care services including COVID-19 testing to public housing residents in New York City. (April 20)
  • Governor Cuomo announced he would issue an executive order calling for all labs in the state to coordinate with the State Department of Health to prioritize coronavirus testing in an effort to increase testing. (April 17)
  • NYC Mayor de Blasio reported that the city will begin producing its own test kits. Additionally, Mayor de Blasio announced the city is receiving 50,000 testing kits from an Indiana lab, and beginning April 20 the city would continue to purchase that many kits per week (April 14)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order to expand eligibility requirements for individuals to conduct antibody tests. (April 13)
  • SUNY Albany will partner with DOH and Northwell Health to increase testing in minority communities. (April 8)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order to allow for the redistribution of ventilators and personal protective equipment to hospitals with the highest need. (April 7)
  • New York is the first state to test the treatment of coronavirus with blood from recovered patients. (March 26)
  • Testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers “as ordered by a health care provider or by calling the NYS COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065.” (NY DOH)

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:

  • Workers can call the coronavirus hotline if they believe their employer is not following recommended guidelines (May 21)
  • Rockland County has met the criteria to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care, joining 50 other counties. (May 21)
  • An Appeals Court rejected arguments that holding the state’s presidential primary would pose a public safety risk. (May 19)
  • Erie County Medical Center received a waiver to restart elective procedures. (May 18)
  • Governor Cuomo suggested that major sports teams should plan to reopen without fans. (May 18)
  • The State has created a website providing businesses guidance for Phase One of reopening. (May 14)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order requiring all nursing homes and adult care facilities to test all personnel twice per week. All positive test results will be required to be reported to the DOH by 5:00 pm the day after the results are received. The order also stipulates that forbids patients from being discharged to a nursing home unless they test negative for COVID-19. (May 10)
  • Governor Cuomo proposed “Americans Fist Law” which would prohibit a corporation from receiving government funding if it does not rehire the same number of employees following the pandemic. (May 10)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that Schmidt Future will aid the State in adopting practices and systems to “build back better.” (May 6)
  • Governor Cuomo extended a previous executive order allowing healthcare workers from out-of-state to practice in New York. (May 5)
  • 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 issued an executive order delaying school board elections and budget votes until June 9. (May 1)
  • The State’s Department of Financial Services will require state-regulated health insurers to waive cost-sharing for mental health services for front-line workers. (May 1)
  • Governor Cuomo directed all schools and colleges to establish plans for reopening. (May 1)
  • The MTA will be stopping train service between 1 am and 5 am daily to disinfect and clean trains beginning May 6. (April 30)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that the contact tracing pilot program funded by Mayor Bloomberg will begin in the coming weeks and will focus on areas with the highest rates of infection. (April 30)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order to establish additional birthing surge locations. (April 30)
  • New York City will close at least 40 miles of streets to vehicles so that individuals have more room to social distance. (April 27)
  • The State canceled its Democratic presidential primary scheduled for June 23, but will still hold its congressional and state primaries. (April 27)
  • The State Department of Health is partnering with Attorney General James to investigate nursing homes that violate executive orders related to COVID-19. (April 23)
  • Governor Cuomo expanded his previous executive order regarding marriage licenses, allowing any authorized officiant to perform marriage ceremonies via video conference. (April 19)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order allowing New Yorkers to obtain marriage licenses remotely and for clerks to perform ceremonies via video conference. (April 18)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order which allows health workers “in good standing” in Canada to practice in New York without penalty for lack of licensure. (April 16)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order calling for all essential businesses to provide masks or face coverings for their employees. (April 13)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order to bring more funeral directors to the state. (April 9)
  • Governor Cuomo signed legislation (8091/A.10153) providing sick leave benefits and certain employee benefits for workers subject to orders of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. (March 18)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order expanding the work from home policies to call for employers to reduce the in-person workforce at locations by 100% by March 22. (March 20)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order directing “non-essential businesses to implement work-from-home policies effective Friday, March 20.” (March 18)
  • Casinos, gyms, and theaters are closed until further notice. (March 16)

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

  • Governor Cuomo announced the State would provide one million masks to New York City’s hardest-hit neighborhoods. (May 28)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that death benefits will be provided for frontline workers who died during the pandemic by state and local governments. (May 25)
  • Governor Cuomo extended the sales tax filing deadline to June 22. (May 21)
  • Mayor de Blasio reported that New York City will deliver 1 million meals daily by next week, with an additional 500,000 meals available for pickup at school sites. (May 21)
  • The State has launched a task force to address domestic violence crisis amidst the pandemic. (May 20)
  • The MTA has announced a pilot program using “150 dual-headed mobile devices” to evaluate the use of UVC light technology to target the coronavirus. (May 20)
  • The State is collaborating with the Greater New York Hospital Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State to launch a two-week pilot program allowing 16 hospitals to increase visitations for family members. (May 19)
  • Governor Cuomo extended the window for filing a claim under the Child Victims Act until January 14th. (May 8)
  • Governor Cuomo extended the moratorium on housing evictions from the end of June to August 20. (May 7)
  • The special enrollment period for the NY State of Health Health Plan Marketplace will remain open through June 15. (May 4)
  • The State is partnering with the Kate Spade New York Foundation and Crisis Text Line to offer emotional support services for frontline health care workers. (May 1)
  • New York City has opened a COVID-19 pet hotline through its Emergency Management Department and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare. (April 28)
  • 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)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that he would order the New York State Board of Elections to mail a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot to every New Yorker. (April 24)
  • The State has announced a new text program and confidential online service to assist victims of domestic abuse. (April 24)
  • 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)
  • The New York City Council introduced a relief package that will offer protections for tenants, workers, and small businesses. (April 21)
  • Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the New York State Council on Women and Girls have established a COVID-19 maternity task force to implement safe alternatives for hospitals. (April 20)
  • The State will provide 500,000 cloth masks and 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to public housing communities. (April 20)
  • 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)
  • Governor Cuomo joined the governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in forming a multi-state council to restore the economy and put people back to work. (April 13 )
  • The New York Court System has partnered with the New York State Bar association to establish the COVID-19 pro bono network. (April 11)
  • 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 he will issue an executive order so that all New Yorkers will be able to vote absentee during the June primary. (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 announced the establishment of the First Responders Fund, which will aid healthcare workers and first responders with expenses such as childcare. (April 6)
  • Governor Cuomo also announced a partnership with Headspace, a mindfulness and meditation app, to provide free content for all New Yorkers to cope with the pandemic. (April 6)
  • The state has suspended residential and commercial evictions for 90 days. (March 20)
  • 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)
  • The state legislature has appropriated $40 million for coronavirus response. (S7919)

Business Support & Resources:

  • Governor Cuomo will sign an executive order on May 28 permitting businesses to deny entry to anyone not wearing a mask or face covering. (May 28)
  • 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)
  • Mayor de Blasio announced the city was launching a $170 million program to deliver meals to New Yorkers who have lost their jobs. Drivers must be licensed by the City’s Taxi & Limousine Commission. (April 15)
  • New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said “businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decreases of 25 percent or more will be eligible for zero-interest loans of up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit,” per a press release. (March 8)

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Shelter-In-Place Orders:

  • No records found as of June 1.
  • Western New York is expected to enter Phase 2 of reopening June 2 with the Capital Region expected to follow on June 3, joining five other regions ins phase two: North Country, Finger Lakes, Central NY, Mohawk Valley, and Southern Tier. (June 1)
  • Dentists across the state are permitted to reopen June 1. (May 31)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that New York City was on track to start reopening the week of June 8. (May 29)
  • Five regions will now enter Phase 2 of reopening: North Country, Finger Lakes, Central NY, Mohawk Valley, and Southern Tier. This will allow the opening of retail curbside pickup and the opening of hair salons and barbershops with guidelines. (May 29)
  • The Long Island Region met all required metrics and reopened on May 27. It joined the Mid-Hudson Region in Phase 1. (May 27)
  • The New York Stock Exchange reopened for the first time since March 23. (May 26)
  • 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 health protocols. (May 24)
  • Campground and RV Parks were permitted to open statewide on May 25. (May 24)
  • The State is assembling an Interfaith Advisory Council to evaluate how to safely resume religious services. (May 20)
  • Governor Cuomo announced that horse racing tracks throughout the state will be allowed to open without fans beginning June 1. (May 16)
  • Governor Cuomo joined the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware in announcing a multi-state agreement to reopen public and private state beaches with restrictions beginning May 22. (May 15)
    • New York City Mayor de Blasio’s office reported that beaches in the city would not open by Memorial Day. (May 15)
  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order extending NYS on Pause until May 28 for regions that have not begun reopening. (May 14) If a region hits its benchmarks prior to then, it can reopen immediately. (May 15)
  • The Broadway League announced that Broadway’s theaters would remain closed through at least Labor Day. (May 12)
  • Low-risk businesses and recreational activities including landscaping, gardening, tennis, and drive-in movie theaters reopened on May 15. (May 11)
  • Governor Cuomo reported that the State will monitor four factors to determine when a region can re-open including new infections, health care capacity, diagnostic testing capacity, and contact tracing capacity. (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 released additional guidelines for phased re-opening of the State once a region has experienced a 14-day decline in hospitalization rate, the area can begin re-opening. These guidelines include but are not limited to requiring businesses to establish plans to protect employees and consumers; each region must have at least 30 percent of hospital beds available after reopening; each region must have at least 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people. (April 28)
  • Governor Cuomo announced his plan for a phased re-opening of the State. Phase 1 will open construction and manufacturing facilities with low risk. Phase 2 will open industries based on priority and risk level. There will be two weeks in between phases. (April 26)
  • 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)
  • Governor Cuomo has ordered that 100 percent of the workforce to stay at home and that all non-essential gatherings are banned. (March 20)

Curfews:

  • No records found.

Social-Distancing Guidelines:

  • Governor Cuomo amended an executive order permitting non-essential gatherings of 10 or fewer individuals. (May 22)
  • Beginning May 21, religious gatherings of no more than 10 people and drive in and parking lot services will be permitted statewide. (May 20)
  • New York City Mayor de Blasio said crowds would be limited at two piers at Hudson River Park and Domino Park in Brooklyn. (May 8)
  • Governor Cuomo announced he would be issuing an executive order that state residents will be required to wear face coverings in areas where people cannot maintain six feet of social distancing. (April 15)
  • Governor Cuomo launched a media campaign (#IStayHomeFor) to promote the message of staying home. The campaign is multi-platform and multi-language. (April 8)
  • Governor Cuomo has doubled fines for breaking social distancing rules to a maximum of $1,000 per instance. (April 7)
  • In response to an increased need to enforce social distancing orders, Governor Cuomo ordered that all New York City playgrounds shutter in order to discourage social gatherings in the city. (April 2)

Delivery Services:

  • Governor Cuomo issued an executive order limited restaurants and bars to only offer food through takeout or delivery services. (March 16)
  • New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued an executive order closing bars and restaurants. (March 16) Takeout can be ordered during the period of closure.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

K-12:

  • Governor Cuomo announced that summer school would be held remotely. (May 21)
  • Governor Cuomo announced all K-12 schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year. (May 1)

State Higher Education:

  • Governor Cuomo announced all college facilities statewide will remain closed for the rest of the school year. (May 1)

Giving Oportunities

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