CORONAVIRUS
New York state reopening: which shops, business and offices can open in phase 2?
Central NY, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier are all moving into Phase 2 but several business have to remain closed.
New York stat is reopening and Andrew Cuomo, the state's governor, says he is confident that in the decision based on the stats and data he has received and analysed. "I feel confident that we can rely on this data and the five regions that have been in Phase 1 can now move to Phase 2 because their data has been reviewed and the experts say to us it’s safe to move forward," Cuomo said in a statement announcing the move to reopen the state.
Official state authorities have also issued guidelines for industries reopening. The guidelines are for "non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions."
The regions moving into Phase 2 are: Central NY, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country and Southern Tier. There are, however, a list of business that remain closed and those that do open have been offered guidelines on how to disinfect offices and public spaces.
- Malls; specifically, any indoor common portions of retail shopping malls with 100,000 or more square feet of retail space available for lease; however, any stores located within shopping malls, which have their own external entrances open to the public, separate from the general mall entrance (e.g. strip malls), may open;
- Dine-in and on-premise restaurant or bar service, excluding take-out or delivery for off-premise consumption;
- Large gathering/event venues, including but not limited to establishments that host concerts, conferences, or other in-person performances or presentations in front of an in-person audience;
- Gyms, fitness centers, and exercise classes, except for remote or streaming services;
- Video lottery and casino gaming facilities;
- Movie theaters, except drive-ins; and
- Places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions.
"We're pleased the Southern Tier & Finger Lakes can proceed with Phase 2 but the Governor needs to be called out for his haphazard, arbitrary approach," Rep. Tom Reed, a Republican from Corning who is a frequent Cuomo critic, tweeted Friday. "People's livelihoods are at stake here."
To help with any ambiguity or uncertainty, they have added a 'reopen look-up tool'.