Amid Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Five Regions will Begin Reopening Today

NYS on PAUSE Extended Until May 28 for Regions That Do Not Open Today; Region Can Enter Phase One of Reopening as Soon as it Hits Benchmark

Outlines Additional Guidelines for Phase One Businesses as They Begin to Reopen

Announces Multi-State Agreement on Beaches and Outlines Specific Conditions for New York Beaches to Reopen

Confirms 2,762 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 345,813; New Cases in 44 Counties

Governor Cuomo: “We’re opening Phase 1 in those five regions today. … We expect to see an increase but that increase has to be monitored and has to be controlled. We’ve talked about the infection rate, the rate of transmission. When the rate of transmission hits 1.1, you’re headed towards a bad place so monitor that rate daily and correct immediately if you see an increase in those numbers.”

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, earlier today Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced five regions will begin reopening today. The Central New York, North Country, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions have met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state’s regional phased reopening plan. NYS on PAUSE will be extended until May 28 for all regions that do not reopen today – Western New York, the Capital Region, the Mid-Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island. When a region meets all seven metrics required for reopening, that region may immediately enter phase one of reopening.

Governor Cuomo also outlined additional guidelines and protocols for phase one businesses as they begin to reopen:

Residential/Commercial Construction

• All workers must have masks and wear them when within six feet of another worker
• Employers must provide masks to all employees
• No congregate meetings

Retail Business Owners – Curbside Pickup

• Employee and purchaser in vehicle must wear a mask, gloves preferred
• Hand sanitizer must be made available

Retail Business Owners – In-Store Pickup

• Requires ordering ahead – pre-arranged orders
• Social distancing required in store
• No more than 50 percent of maximum occupancy
• Patrons must wear masks
• Store employees must wear masks, gloves preferred
• Hand sanitizer must be made available

The Governor also announced a multi-state agreement with New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware to reopen beaches for Memorial Day Weekend. The Governor outlined specific conditions New York beaches must meet to reopen. State and local beaches and lakeshores in New York State may open the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend on the following minimum conditions:

• Mandating no more than 50 percent capacity by ensuring controlled exits/entrances and limiting parking
• Prohibiting group contact activities, including sports (e.g. volleyball, football)
• Keeping areas of social gathering closed (e.g. designated picnic areas, playgrounds, pavilions, arcades, amusement rides)
• Enforcing social distancing measures for both employees and visitors
• Requiring masks to be worn by all employees and visitors when social distancing is not possible
• Closing concessions
• Ensuring staff levels are adequate to achieve these measures and enforce crowd control.

City, town and county beaches may open on the same conditions subject to local government home rule:

• Local government must fully enforce minimum rules and may impose additional conditions
• If local governments do not enforce minimum rules, the beach will be closed
• Locals must notify the public by Wednesday, May 20 of their intention to open
• Beaches can open on Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, May 22, 2020