New York State has begun the reopening plan for several regions, with many following close behind. Westchester County (part of the Mid-Hudson region) started Phase 1 of reopening last week. To help you understand this process, we put together a quick overview of the Reopening plan including requirements, a schedule and projected timeline. Note that in this environment, information is changing rapidly. You can find the most current and up-to-date information by going to https://forward.ny.gov/
REOPENING REQUIREMENTS
NY State recently implemented an “early warning dashboard” to monitor virus containment and track metrics. This allows New Yorkers to view all of the state’s data tracking. They have a State Wide Regional Unpause Dashboard and a Region-specific Unpause Dashboard.
In order for a region to be eligible for Reopening, they must satisfy ALL of the following requirements:
-
- 14-Day Decline in net Hospitalizations OR Under 15 new Hospitalizations (3-day average)
- 14-Day Decline in Hospital Deaths OR Fewer than 5 deaths (3-day avg)
- New Hospitalizations (Under 2 per 100k residents – 3 day rolling avg)
- Share of total beds available (threshold of 30%)
- Share of ICU beds available (threshold of 30%)
- 30 per 1k residents tested monthly (7-day avg of new tests per day)
- Contact tracers 30 per 100k residents or based on infection rate.
REOPENING PLAN (SCHEDULE + TIMELINE)
The reopening structure categorizes industries into corresponding Phases by prioritizing those that pose the lowest risk of infection for employees and patrons.
After two weeks of each Phase, the outcomes of the reopening will be evaluated by NY state and regional officials to determine eligibility to move to the next Phase.
PHASE 1
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale Supply Chain
- Retailers – curbside/in-store pickup or drop off only*
- Agriculture
- Forestry/Fishing/Hunting
- Landscaping/Gardening
- Drive-In Movie Theaters
- Socially distant recreational activities (i.e. golf, tennis, etc.)
PHASE 2
- Storefront Retailers
- Professional service (Finance and Insurance, Administrative Support, and Real Estate and Rental/Leasing industries.
PHASE 3
- Hospitality dine-in services (Restaurants, Hotels, etc.)
PHASE 4
- Schools
- Arts
- Entertainment
- Recreation (Movie Theaters, Museums, etc.)
REMINDERS
As we progress through this reopening period, it’s critical that individuals do their part to slow and stop the spread as much as possible. It’s important to be vigilant and respectful of others. Many people have mixed emotions and different comfort levels with reopening. Remember to follow all state and local guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people; do not shake hands.
- Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others.
- Wear a face mask or cloth face covering that covers your nose and mouth when in public and/or when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
- Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
If you are sick:
- Stay home.
- If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen.
- Keep sick household members away from others. If you have a separate room that is best.
- Use soap and water, a bleach and water solution, or EPA-approved household products. You can make your own cleanser with a mixture of 1 cup of liquid unscented chlorine bleach in 5 gallons of water.
- Avoid sharing personal items.
- Anyone at high risk for complications should talk to their healthcare provider for more information.