Long Island and Mid-Hudson Regions on Track for Phase 1 Reopening Next Week Governor Cuomo today stated that the Long Island and Mid-Hudson regions are on track to begin Phase 1 of New York State’s reopening process next week.  Reopening will be permitted if the number of deaths continues to decrease and the required contact tracing benchmark is reached.  Anticipating this reopening, the Governor announced that construction staging can begin in these regions. Legislative Session Scheduled for Next Week According to [...]

Summer School During today’s press conference, Governor Cuomo announced summer school would be conducted via distance learning. He further added the State will issue guidelines in early June requiring schools to come up with a plan to prepare to open for the Fall semester. District plans will have to submitted to the State in July for approval to open in September.  Sales Tax Deadline Moved Governor Cuomo announced the New York State sales tax filing deadline, which was moved to May [...]

Preliminary Regional Testing Results Today Governor Cuomo announced that the first round of the preliminary regional antibody test results have been delivered and they are showing an increasing amount in the average number of individuals positive in lower income and minority communities. Of the 8,000 total tests performed across all five boroughs as well as Long Island, 27% of the individuals tested positive for the COVID-19 antibody with the Bronx showing the highest positive rate of 34%, and specifically the Morrisania [...]

Capital Region to Begin Phase 1 Reopening Tomorrow Governor Cuomo announced that tomorrow, May 20th, the Capital Region will become the seventh region in New York State to begin Phase 1 of the State’s reopening process.  The final hurdle was cleared when the region identified a sufficient number of contact tracers. Memorial Day Celebrations The Governor announced that the State will allow Memorial Day ceremonies that have 10 people or less.  Local governments will have the final decision on whether ceremonies [...]

Western New York Region to Begin Phase 1 Governor Cuomo announced today that tomorrow, May 19th, the Western New York region will become the sixth region in the State to begin with phase one of the reopening process. The region had originally been over 300 people shy of the needed 521 tracers, but they have been able to identify enough tracers to pass that last benchmark over the last 24 hours. Reopening Updates The Governor revisited his recent priority of mandating [...]

Western New York and Capital Region Closer to Phase 1 Reopening  Western New York and the Capital Region currently have satisfied 6 of 7 metrics to qualify for Phase 1 of New York State’s reopening process.  In both regions, contact tracing capacities must be increased.  Governor Cuomo today said that the State is working with those regions to meet the required benchmark and he is optimistic that reopening can begin in both locations soon. Facilitating Diagnostic Testing for New Yorkers The [...]

Empire State Development Business Reopening Tool The Governor’s Office has made us aware that last night New York State launched a new business reopening tool that uses NAICS codes to clarify what businesses are allowed to reopen. We have been informed the new tool will not impact essential business designations. We strongly recommend all clients with business operations in the State test this new tool with your NAICS codes to ensure it reflects your individual business’ current operating status. Remember, the [...]

Five Upstate Regions Beginning Phase 1 Reopening Today Five upstate New York regions – the North Country, Finger Lakes, Central New York, Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier – have begun Phase 1 reopening operations.  For the remaining five regions – Western New York, the Capital Region, the Mid-Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island – “New York State on PAUSE” business restrictions and social protocols have been extended through May 28.  Governor Cuomo today stated that if any of [...]

Central New York has become the fifth region in New York State that will begin its Phase I reopening tomorrow, May 15 at 12:01am (joining the North Country, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, and Southern Tier regions). 

Today Governor Cuomo announced that 12 additional counties are now eligible to restart elective surgeries, leaving Erie as the only upstate county that is still restricted from performing these types of procedures. The complete list of counties that are restricted from performing elective surgeries is below: