New Statewide Public Affairs Blog
We are happy to announce the “Statewide Blog” is now live. Here you will find COVID-19 updates, additional updates on events and happenings in New York State and other client related materials. The blog will be part of our website and updated in real time.
Executive Order
Governor Cuomo announced today and is expected to issue shortly a new Executive Order requiring individuals to wear protective mouth and nose coverings when in public and where proper social distancing regulations (six feet of separation) cannot be practiced. The Governor also stated that this will be enforced on a local level with a civil violation and depending on the level of adherence the possibility in the future of further penalties.
Phased Opening for Business
As New York State looks to regain its momentum and business capacity, the Governor indicated this will only be accomplished in partnership with the Federal Government. Governor Cuomo called for an additional $500 billion in federal aid to help States off-set significant budget gaps caused by COVID. The National Governors Association made a similar request for federal relief. (The NGA letter can be found here.)
In association with the additional funding, New York State would need to identify certain factors for businesses when it comes to a phased-in reopening:
- How “essential” is the business or service?
- What is the risk of “infection spread” of the business?
- An example was, what level of social distancing could be adhered to for the business to function.
The below table was provided in accompaniment to these two factors:
| “More-Essential” Industry | “Less Essential” Industry | |
| Low Risk Factors | Services/product more essential, low risk of workplace or customer infection spread | Services/product less essential, low risk of workplace or customer infection spread |
| High Risk Factors | Services/product more essential, high risk of workplace or customer infection spread | Services/product less essential, high risk of workplace or customer infection spread |
Testing
New York State is currently awaiting FDA approval to conduct approximately 500,000 tests per week. This is a critical component to the State’s efforts to getting “back to business.”
COVID-19 Numbers
As of today, 213,779 people have tested positive in New York State. The number of deaths in the State has increased 752 over the last 24 hours to 11,586.
